SERVANTHOOD
2 Corinthians 10
“You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” (John 13:13-17)
When Jesus washed his disciples’ feet and taught them that they should likewise wash one another’s feet, he established that humility must be the hallmark of his servants.
In the same way, when he said “Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him”, we must learn that we are not cleverer than our master, or that our thoughts are better than his, or our ways more effective.
Paul tells us that the way of the world is this “boldness” that the Corinthian church was attracted to. The world understands power and is drawn to it; the church, desiring to be more effective and more relevant, often seeks such power. However, power corrupts and the excesses of the church in wielding power during the middle ages right through to as recent as the last century, is a blot in the history of the church.
Paul is very clear that the authority he has been given as a servant of the Lord is for “building you up rather than tearing you down”. It must never be abused to build himself a cult following with people hanging on his word and authority. As a servant of the Lord he seeks to elevate Jesus in the lives of Christians so that their faith in their Lord will grow. As a servant all he desires is to have more opportunity to serve his Lord, to preach the Gospel even further.
Paul put on the “humility and gentleness of Christ” even in the face of such criticisms, preferring to appeal and even beg the congregation to respond to the teaching of the Lord rather than be beguiled by appearances. It cannot be easy for him except for the Lord teaching him about the power of the Christian way to destroy strongholds.
“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:8-10)