Metaphorically speaking, each of us is hoping to soar into a brighter future. As men, we want to be great at providing a bright future for those we love. Jesus tells us how to be truly great.
Mark 9:35 (TLB) “The greatest must be the least—the servant of all!”
The greatest honor any man will ever receive is to hear our Flight Captain say, “Well done faithful servant!” (Matthew 25:21). Today, I’ve received permission to talk about a few great men who are servants. A man I came to admire immensely, was Ernesto’s daddy, Mr. Gilbert Atencio. Mr. Atencio was a faithful caregiver to his wife, who was in a wheelchair for 17 years before she passed on. Mr. Atencio faithfully took care of her every need. That is a true servant. Ernesto himself is a true servant. He installed our carpet, fixes and repairs things around here and has served our church in many ways for many years. It would be impossible to list all of the things Ernest and other men do to serve God and our church family. I also want to honor Hector, who has already helped with the Rummage Sale this year. He also keeps the grass cut around the church, translates for us and serves in many other ways. These men inspire me as examples of men who are the servants of all.
I’ve also received permission to talk about Rebecca’s family. She told me a little bit about what attracted her to her husband. Nick was just learning to snowboard. He came down the slope at a fast speed and jumped his board up onto the handrail of a deck. He rode the rail until he crashed and landed on the hard deck floor. People groaned and said, “I’ll bet that hurt!” Rebecca was impressed by the fact that Nick got right back up, tried it again and rode the rail all the way to the end.
Jim is Rebecca’s father. When she was a little girl, they sang together in nursing homes, but a car wreck left him with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and special needs. When Nick and Rebecca started dating, Nick warmly welcomed Jim into his life. It is not every young man who would so generously welcome his father-in-law into his home, particularly with special needs. But Nick serves his father-in-law consistently and patiently. He walks slowly with Jim to help him with balance, and helps him with many other needs as well. One of Nick’s greatest joys is to be Charlotte’s daddy. Nick gives Rebecca a break whenever he can take Charlotte. Nick helps me with 4 Eagle Senior Care at times and helps Rebecca with the Eagle County Rummage Sale and never complains. Nick is a caregiver and a servant to his family and to our community. Both Nick and Jim inspire me to be a better man.
Jesus washed the disciples’ feet (John 13) during the Last Supper. Walking in sandals on the dusty roads of Israel and dirty streets of Jerusalem, where sheep and other cattle were, made it imperative to wash feet before a meal, especially since people reclined at low tables and feet could be easily seen and smelled. When Jesus rose from the table and washed the disciples’ feet (John 13:4), he was doing the work of the lowliest of servants. Jesus came, not as King and Conqueror, but as the suffering Servant of Isaiah 53. He came “not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28). The humility expressed and the lessons he taught, by washing his disciples’ feet, foreshadowed his ultimate act of humility and love on the cross and set an example for us to follow.
Philippians 2:3-11 (NIV) 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
This morning, dear friends, let us follow the example of the good men we’ve spoken about, and especially of the Man, Christ Jesus. Let us bow our hearts and our knees before our Captain, and with his strong hand guiding us, let us lay aside any selfishness or conceit. Let us be the servant of all. Let us serve our families, our church, and our community with enthusiasm, compassion and the humble mindset Jesus had. Men, let us be faithful servants of God and of our fellowman, and in so doing, we can soar into the bright skies of faith, hope, love, joy, peace, power and purpose. We can take our families and others with us and experience abundant life now and forever. Amen.
God Bless You,
Pastor Dan Matney
970-390-0731
