The Reason for the Season: A Selfless Gift

“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many." –Matthew 20:28

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.” –Philippians 2:3-10

“While they were (in Bethlehem), the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.” –Luke 2:6-7

Men, did you know that some of the most happy and peaceful people in this life are those who serve others and give of themselves to help those people around them? Christ came to this world in one of the most humble ways to be born. Can you imagine the innkeeper, “Um, I’m sorry the God of the universe sent his son to be born at my inn but I have no rooms left so just go ahead and sleep in the barn, ok, thanks.” Talk about a missed marketing opportunity for his business! Can you imagine? He could use the advertisement, “God decided to stay here so you should too!” Well, of course he didn’t realize the Savour of the universe was in the form of a small baby to be born that night but the point remains, God knew this would be the way it would take place and allowed it.

Typically when a king or a royal baby is born there’s a huge announcement and the red carpet is rolled out and the finest bedding is put down to welcome their birth. Not in the case of Jesus though, no he came quietly in anything but a spectacular setting. But the beauty of it is he did that for us to serve and NOT BE served. He was the perfect example of humility and followed this example all through his ministry here on earth. Can you imagine the most famous person in the world today having the ability to decide where he’d be born? Can you imagine anybody choosing a barn full of animals to enter the world? Even if that was possible for someone to decide where they’d like to be born it would fail in comparison to THE GOD OF THE UNIVERSE choosing this for his beloved, perfect son who was given as a gift to us sinful, non-deserving people! How easy it would have been for him to say, “Forget that! I don’t deserve that kind of treatment and they certainly don’t deserve me! I think I’ll have the royal suite and special treatment with room service please.”

If God did this for us certainly we can humble ourselves and not demand our way in everything we do in relation to our interactions with others. Certainly we can learn to take the high road when we feel wronged by people throughout our life. We certainly don’t have to be a pushover but we must choose our battles and what’s worth letting fall off our back and what's worth standing up to. Christ stood for righteousness and justice but didn't let the small things and people's opinions bother or sway him in his ministry. We as men have got to learn to stop being so selfish and demanding our way. We must follow Christ’s example and look to the interests of others while not losing sight of our mission and our own path. Christ came to serve people while here on earth and didn’t demand to be equal in his royal stance as God. No, he gave up his right for royal treatment and obeyed his Father God and was born into a lowly manger and allowed himself to be sentenced to a horrific and excruciating, painful death for ungrateful, sinful people. The sad thing is we most likely would have gone along with the crowd if we there 2000 years ago. My pride would like to tell me I would of took a stand to help Jesus but chances are I would of let it happen and been just as guilty as the rest of the crowd. It’s a humbling and sad thought. The good news is that through Jesus’ humility he was exalted to where one day everybody will bow to him. Herod, Hitler, Stalin, Capone, yes everybody will answer to our loving God Almighty. Certainly we can learn from Christ’s example and humble ourselves to take the attitude of a servant and look to meet the needs of others. There’s no better example of humility than the Christmas story we hear during this time of year. Forget “Happy Holidays,” that takes the focus off my Lord, rather, “Merry Christmas!!!”

People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.