Four Essential Elements for Serving Others
By James Kyte
John 13:4-5,
“He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.”
Warren Wiersbe stated, “If we want to hold a scepter, we must begin with a towel.”[1]
This philosophy is not popular in today’s culture. Most want the scepter, but want to ignore or even bypass the towel all together. The Lord gave up His scepter to come and serve with a towel.
Will I pick up the towel, or do I long for the scepter?
In John 13, we see the greatest example of servant leadership. Jesus was the perfect pattern of how we should be serving others.
The child of God must incorporate Four Essential Elements for Serving Others Effectively:
Serving Others with a DECISIVE PRIORITY.
Our Lord decisively prioritized serving others leading up to the Cross. Right until His last moments, He was placing a priority upon serving. At His last meal with His disciples, He took the position of a servant in order to model an invaluable lesson of servant leadership.
John 13:3-4, “Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.”
In his book Relationships 101, John Maxwell stated, “Servanthood is not about position or skill. It’s about attitude…the best leaders desire to serve others, not themselves.”[2] When we make serving others a priority, we will be demonstrating the mind of Christ.
Paul instructs us in Philippians 2:5, “Let this mind be in which was also in Christ Jesus….”
This same mindset and desire our Lord possessed must be our passion and mentality. Demonstrating the Lord’s priority requires an intentional decision upon our part.
Serving Others with a DELIBERATIVE HUMILITY.
John 13:5, “After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.”
Our Lord deliberately humbled Himself to wash His disciple’s feet. These are the feet which He created. And soon after, these same feet would be running away in denial and betrayal. The cross, the denial, and the betrayals occurred only hours from the time He washed their feet.
Philippians 2:8 illustrates for us, But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”
Am I intentional and deliberate in humbly serving others no matter their station in life?
Serving Others with a DEFINITIVE MATURITY (FAITH).
John 13:6, “Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?”
Notice the Lord’s response to Peter’s request in John 13:7, “Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.
Wiersbe stated, “Servant leadership is God’s way of building His people spiritually. For one thing, it demands mature faith to believe that you win by surrendering, gain by losing, and lead by serving; but that’s what Jesus promised.”[1]
We don’t always know the outcomes when we serve others. But when we do it unto the least, we have done it unto the Lord. Serving the Lord will look much different than following the World or our own ways. It won’t always make sense, for we must walk by faith and not by sight. However, serving the Lord and serving others will bring God’s greatest blessings.
Serving Others with a DEMONSTRATIVE IMPARTIALITY.
John 13:10-11 captures these scene for us, “Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.”
Knowing that He would be betrayed at the hands of Judas, our Lord still washes Judas’s feet. Would I wash his feet? That’s what our Lord did. What a humbling and impartial way to demonstrate service and love, even to those who don’t reciprocate that love back. To provide this impartiality requires sacrifice, the relinquishment of my pride, and filling with the Spirit.
The real test of spiritual maturity is not measured by how many people follow me, but how many people that I serve.
Mark 9:35,
“And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.”
What are some ways you can better demonstrate the mind of Christ by serving others?
[1] Warren W. and David W. Wiersbe, 10 Power Principles for Christian Service, 2nd ed. (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2010), p. 67, 70
[2] John C. Maxwell, Relationships 101 What Every Leader Needs to Know (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2003), p. 85
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The washing of feet it one of my favorite parts in reading Jesus’ ministry on earth. Servant hood is such an important part of following Jesus. It’s not something that I always do so naturally and I think it’s the things that push me out of my comfort zone that I have to work harder in.
Getting out of our comfort zones is the hard part, but is often when God uses us the most!
I especially love your conclusion: “The real test of spiritual maturity is not measured by how many people follow me, but how many people that I serve.” This is always the challenge I have to keep in mind, and I love this reminder. It’s the ONE person at a time that God brings across my path that He is wanting me to encourage. I believe encouragement is the best way to serve.
This is a great quote and challenge!