Title About Serving
Lent Meditation (2)-On Serving
Text/ Mark 9:33-37
1. Introduction
2. The Bible Says About “Serving”
*Jesus sat down and called the twelve disciples and said to them, If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not receive me, but he who sent me (Mark 9:33-37).
*Jesus called his disciples, and said to them, "You know that the so-called rulers of the Gentiles have their own power over them, and their great men exercise authority over them, but it is not so among you. Whoever wants to For the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many (Mark 10: 35-45).
*As Jesus was teaching, he said, "Beware of the scribes who wear long robes, receive greetings in the market place, and want a table in the synagogue and a table in banquets (Mark 12:38-40, Note: This record in the Gospel of Mark is based on Matthew and Luke It is recorded in more detail in the Gospel (Matthew 23:1-36, Luke 6:34-35, Luke 11:37-54, Luke 14:7-14, Luke 20:45-47, etc.).
*Be kind to one another with love and respect one another… Provide for the needs of the saints, and do your best to show hospitality… In this way, those who serve Christ are pleasing to God and praised by men (Romans 12). 1:1-13, Romans 14:8)
*The Macedonian church served the Corinthian church materially (2 Corinthians 8:1-24) and the Corinthian church served the Jerusalem church materially (2 Corinthians 9:1-15).
3. How will you serve?
first. Serving - What is Serving? The word “serve” is a translation of the Greek “diakonia”, which is translated into English as “service-service, servant-servant, deacon-male butler, deaconess-female butler, etc.”. The original meaning of the Greek word “diakonia” was “preparing and serving meals (Martha was preparing the table for Jesus is diakonia” Luke 10:4), which means “serving, serving, and caring.” -Servant-助手(assistant)-helper-rescue-aid-agent-dealer, etc. have been expanded.
Serving means serving with care-consideration-taking care of others so that they can eat comfortably and enjoyably without bothersomeness (isn't it just a meal?). However, if this service is poom-at service, it is not service at all. So Jesus said, “If you lend to people in hopes of repayment, what is the praise? Do not expect, but lend” (Luke 6:34-35).
second. Do not misunderstand the words of Jesus who said, “Whoever wants to be first, must be a servant of all people” and think of it as “serving as a means to become first.” “Serving is service, not the means-method to become the best.” Jesus severely rebuked the scribes and Pharisees because they used prayers, long clothes, fasting, and extensive knowledge of the law as the primary means that ordinary people could not do.
Why? This is because they were “people who did not serve everyone in order to become the best, but tried to practice serving itself.” If they had made “serving as a means to become supreme”, they would have already been socially buried as the most ignorant con artists. Why? Because the mind of the people is the mind of heaven.
third. Serving is something that can be done by 崇儉節約 (reverence for frugality, moderation and thrift). Chapters 8-9 of 2 Corinthians record a beautiful scene in which the Macedonian church, who sacrificed herself in the midst of difficulties, serves the Corinthian church and the Corinthian church serves the Jerusalem church. Serving comes with self-sacrifice, whether it is done physically or materially. Since I'm too busy to write, when will I be able to serve others? Therefore, serving requires us to live a life of thorough frugality - poverty - moderation - economy - thrifty.
治人事天 莫若嗇 夫唯嗇 是謂之重積德 (Chinsacheon, weak color, wealthy, wealthy, strong, wise, jeok-deok: There is nothing better than thrifty and thrift in governing people and accomplishing the will of heaven. is a matter of accumulating virtue.)
In the weekly <Fountain of the Word> bulletin