February 1, 2014: Rowdy Servants

Matthew 20:17-34

Amplified Bible (AMP)

17 And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, He took the twelve disciples aside along the way and said to them,

18 Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and scribes; and they will sentence Him to death

19 And deliver Him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and whipped and crucified, and He will be raised [to life] on the third day.

20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s children came up to Him with her sons and, kneeling, worshiped Him and asked a favor of Him.

21 And He asked her, What do you wish? She answered Him, Give orders that these two sons of mine may sit, one at Your right hand and one at Your left in Your kingdom.

22 But Jesus replied, You do not realize what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink and to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized? They answered, We are able.

23 He said to them, You will drink My cup, but seats at My right hand and at My left are not Mine to give, but they are for those for whom they have been ordained and prepared by My Father.

24 But when the ten [other disciples] heard this, they were indignant at the two brothers.

25 And Jesus called them to Him and said, You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men hold them in subjection [tyrannizing over them].

26 Not so shall it be among you; but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant,

27 And whoever desires to be first among you must be your slave—

28 Just as the Son of Man came not to be waited on but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many [the price paid to set them free].

29 And as they were going out of Jericho, a great throng accompanied Him.

30 And behold, two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, Lord, have pity and mercy on us, [You] Son of David!

31 The crowds reproved them and told them to keep still; but they cried out all the more, Lord, have pity and mercy on us, [You] Son of David!

32 And Jesus stopped and called them, and asked, What do you want Me to do for you?

33 They answered Him, Lord, we want our eyes to be opened!

34 And Jesus, in pity, touched their eyes; and instantly they received their sight and followed Him.

So obviously Jesus feels the need to emphasize the "least is the greatest" principle. For one thing, He keeps encountering people who have it all wrong. 
So here it is again! If you and I wish to be highly respected and honored, we must have a servant mentality. Serve, serve, serve others! Give freely and generously of our love, time and resources. 
Jesus didn't call us to focus only on our own small world. We must love and give freely to our immediate families, yes! But while we are loving them, teach them to love and give freely to those who are less fortunate than them. By example! We must teach our children how to minister to the hurting and broken people. Those who have nothing to give back. The widows and orphans. 

James 1:27Amplified Bible (AMP)

27 External religious worship [religion as it is expressed in outward acts] that is pure and unblemished in the sight of God the Father is this: to visit and help and care for the orphans and widows in their affliction and need, and to keep oneself unspotted and uncontaminated from the world.

We must be a servant to all. And the rewards are endless!
Also, according to verse 31, we have to get rowdy sometimes! Our first inclination is to think we don't deserve whatever it is we desire. We hang our heads in shame and wallow in a pity party. Or, we just accept the physical or emotional pain as our lot in life. That's not what the blind men did, however! They made total fools of themselves in front of everyone! And they received their miracle!
"Dear Jesus, once again I thank You for Your word. And as I study about being a servant, You are reminding me of a lady I must visit today. She needs me. She has nothing. Can she give back? No. Not now! She literally has nothing to give. The only food she has is what I have given her. Wait, this is my day off! Cant it wait till Monday? No it can't. Yes. I will go. Here am I, send me. I will go in Jesus name. I will be Your hands and feet. And I hope to bring her with me to heaven! And we will bow at Your feet in humble adoration together! AMEN."