SERVICE-HOOD  OR  SELF-INDULGENCE?

“Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.”  Mark 9:36b

Did you know that Christians are conflicted people – or should be?  You might be saying, what?  Did I hear him right?  Yes, you did hear me correctly.  Christians are conflicted people, but let me explain. 

 It is a wonder to me that the paper this morning's gospel is printed on does not literally rip in two!  The friction between the first three verses and the next three verses of today's gospel is so intense it's amazing the page doesn't burst into flames.  Take a closer look.

 In the first three verses Jesus is telling his disciples for the second time he will be betrayed, suffer,  killed and then rise again.  We’re told they didn't understand, and were afraid to ask him about it. 

 Of course they were afraid to ask him about it!  Just a short time before (in chapter 8) Jesus had told them the exact same thing and Peter took issue with Jesus.  Jesus was so upset with Peter's resistance he rebuked him and called him “Satan.”   You're darn right they were afraid to ask. 

 The first three verses of today’s gospel speak of Jesus' self-sacrifice and servant-hood, dying on the cross for the sins of the world, and in so doing modeling the kind of life he wants his disciples to live: a life characterized by self-sacrifice and servant-hood.  Last week we heard him issue the awesome invitation, "If any one would follow me let him take up his cross and follow me."   

 Then, without any buffer or transition, we’re told the disciples had been arguing about who was the greatest among them. In the next chapter they are even more presumptuous asking Jesus if they can sit at his right and left hand when he comes into his kingdom.  They were arguing about power, status, security and fame. It was a discussion of ultimate self-indulgence. 

 So there we have it.  Self-sacrifice and self-indulgence staring each other directly in the eye!  Like a main street duel, at high noon, in Dodge City in the old west they stand face to face, servant-hood and self-indulgence, and it's a fight unto the death.  Who will win?  Who will win in your life?

Yes, you heard me correctly, in your life!   I believe that the conflict we see and feel in this gospel passage this morning is a conflict that takes shape in the life of every follower of Jesus Christ.   It’s a conflict that is inevitable and necessary. 

Marcia and I first introduced this conflict to our son David when he was a little boy.  We explained to him that he probably wouldn’t be able to have some of the things that other kids had:  the designer/brand name clothes, and every latest toy or gadget - for two reasons.  First we explained to him that Dad was in a profession in which he would never make a lot of money.  Second, we explained to him that an important priority in our lives was to give a percentage of our income away and be generous – to be servants with our time, talent and treasure.

At a young age we deliberately implanted in this innocent little life the seed of this conflict - the seed of servant-hood.  Because of the self-indulgent values with which we are surrounded in the culture around us, it inevitably created a conflict.  Were we being bad parents?  I don’t think so!  The little boy grew up, and he continues to carry forth the same values of generosity and giving.

You see, what we have in this gospel are the values of the kingdom of God and the values of the world set side by side, and when those values are both present in a single human life a conflict is created.  It is inevitable, and I would argue it is necessary. 

It is tragic and unfortunate that in our culture the word “service” has come to be more associated with “self-service” than “servant-hood” or “service-hood,” as I like to say.  Self-service means just what it says. Self-service is service directed inwardly towards self. Self-service shows little regard for others or for the world.  It is a self-service mentality that has created the situation that exists in our world today.  The United States, with 4 percent of the world's population, accounts for 24 percent of world energy consumption. U.S per capita consumption is 14 times greater and CO2 emissions rate 18 times greater than the sum total of low-income countries with 46 percent of the world's population. The richest 10 percent of Americans (25 million) have an income greater than the poorest 43 percent of the world's people (2 billion). I could go on.  It is a self-service mentality and value system that gives many people a sense that it is their birthright to consume with little or no regard for others or for the consequences for the earth. 

In the Kingdom of God the word “service” is always outwardly focused towards others as in “service-hood.”  Jesus turns our 21^st century self-service orientation completely inside-out and upside-down when he says, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” 

In my first two weeks living in Ft Collins, I have seen this service-hood attitude expressed in numerous places, and I will share with you three.

First: I have spent the last two Sunday evenings with SOTH youth as they have planned their schedule of activities through Christmas.  Without any promptings from the adults who were present these youth chose to devote 1/3 of their youth group meeting time to service and service-hood activities.  I believe they are setting an example for the rest of us and mentoring us.

Second:  Yesterday I was at the Habitat for Humanity build in Rigden Farm.  What an inspiring thing it was to see 60-70 people show up early on a cold, blustery Saturday morning with smiles on their faces, enthusiastic spirits and willing hands ready to give of their time and talent for the four families who will soon make the four-plex their homes. 

Finally:  On Thursday I was at the Interfaith Council and heard an inspiring and hopeful presentation by Heather Hallett Thurston from the Food Bank for Larimer County.  I was inspired by such an impressive outreach effort in our community.  The thing that really hit me was that this wonderful service for the hungry of our community would not be possible without many people choosing “service-hood” over self-indulgence.  She told us 21,000 volunteer hours were logged in 2005 to make the Food Bank’s efforts possible and 5 million pounds of food passed through generous hands.

You see, the philosophy of self-service (or self-indulgence) is based upon a lie.  The lie is that self-service leads to fulfillment.  But it’s a bold-faced lie!  Self-service subtly and deviously steals life away.  Do you remember the drama/sitcom “Northern Exposure” back in the early 90’s?  It was the tongue-in-cheek story about life in a small Alaskan Village north of Anchorage.  I watched it, especially since we were living in Alaska at the time.  During the opening credits there was a moose that would walk down the street of the fictional town of Sicily, Alaska.  It was the most emaciated, pathetic looking moose I have ever seen.  I read somewhere that the moose died.  I am not surprised.  But the moose died because it was being fed the wrong food.  The moose had plenty to eat, but died of complications from malnutrition even though it had plenty to eat. 

That is exactly the way it is with self-service and self-indulgence.  We dine at the buffet line of more, more, more; bigger this, more expensive that; fancier this, the latest that; whatever.  However, the more we consume the more mal-nourished we become and our spirits slowly starve to death because we simply cannot get enough.   

Service-hood is something radically different.  Jesus said, ”Whoever wants to be first of all must become servant of all.”  Last week we heard him say something similar, “For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake and the sake of gospel’s will save it.”

If you believe that Jesus is telling the truth when he speaks these paradoxical words, then a conflict will exist in your life because the truth he speaks is in conflict with the bold-face lie the world tries to pass off as the truth that self-service brings fulfillment.  We are saturated in the media by this lie everyday.  Our culture has literally made us and itself addicted to it!

It’s ironic to me that often when someone has committed a crime they are made to do “community service” as punishment.  No wonder so many people avoid service-hood like the plague.  Even though I understand why that is done by the court system, it still comes off as punishment, when in the kingdom of God service is seen as a privilege. 

On Thursday someone at Interfaith Council said, “Service is the rent we pay for being residents on this planet.” 

I like that, but I would say it a little differently.  I would say, “Service-hood is the offering we give in thankful response to the reconciling gift of grace that God freely gives to us in Jesus Christ.”

So, as a follower of Jesus Christ, the next time you feel the conflict between service-hood and self-service in your heart, see it as the work of the Holy Spirit inviting you to not choose the lie, but follow the truth.   Amen.