The Plight of the Proud (Part 2)

In The Plight of the Proud , the Propensity to be Proud was discussed. We saw how, because of our fallen nature, we are going to have the tendency to be proud. Thankfully, through Christ's death on the cross, we can be free from these natural tendencies of sin. That doesn't mean that we won't sin any more, but that we are no longer slaves to sin (Romans 6:6).

Now, lets take a look at pride versus humility.

The Proud Performer (Serve or be Served)

God hit me over the head one day. I had refused to let someone get up and get me a drink. "No, I'll do it myself," and I did. When I sat back down, the same person informed me that I had just refused them the opportunity of letting them serve me. Ouch. That's when God hit me over the head, and began stirring in my heart this concept that I had never realized before. It takes more humility to be served than it does to serve.

See, the proud performer may have convinced themselves that they are humble, because they are serving others. However, they are not allowing anyone to serve them. Their servant hood is really a mere performance, since their heart is not in the right place. Humility that will not be served is not humility, but self-righteousness. Self-righteousness? That sounds a lot like pride.

God slowly began revealing this truth to me, and He began bringing to mind the time when Jesus washed the disciples feet. In John, chapter 13, we see where the disciples are having their last supper with Jesus. They of course do not know that this is the last time that they will be eating with Him, yet they realize something is different when Jesus gets up from the table, takes off his outer garments and begins to wash the disciples' feet. Most lessons that I have heard come from this passage deal with our being servants. Jesus came to serve, so we should also serve others. (Verse 14) However, Peter and his response stand out to me.

Imagine what it might have been like. Peter is sitting there eating a meal with Jesus and the twelve, like they have so many times before. Suddenly, Jesus gets up from the table, and the next thing that the twelve know is that they are watching their Master do the job of the servants. First, He washes the feet of Thomas. Then Andrew, James, and Matthew are next. Peter watches as Jesus works His way closer and closer to him. Finally, Jesus gets to Peter, and Peter says, "Are You going to wash my feet too?" Jesus stops for a minute and looks into Peter's eyes. "You don't understand what I am doing, but soon you will." "No, Lord! You will never wash my feet!"

I think that there are two lessons to be learned here. The first is often taught, the second I am still learning.
It takes humility to serve. Jesus, God Himself, was humble enough to do the job that was left for the lowliest of servants.
It takes humility to be served. Peter's pride would not allow him to be served by Jesus.

Humility that will not be served is not humility. Acts of servant hood without humility are just performances. One who will not allow others to serve them is a performer in their service to others. Jesus' act of service towards the disciples was not a performance. He did it out of humility. We know this, because Jesus served, and He was served.

Shortly before His washing of the disciples' feet, Jesus was served. Mary took some expensive ointment, and began to anoint Jesus' head. She also washed His feet with her hair. You can read this great act of humility in John 12. Jesus had the humility, not only to serve, but to be served be others.

So, "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!" Philippians 2:5-8

Are you serving? Are you allowing others to serve you?