Serve the King
Jesus teaches us to look beyond serving ourselves to see a world in need.
“Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac...and died at a good old age...Isaac and Ishmael, his sons, buried him in the cave of Machpelah...Isaac entreated Yahweh for his wife, because she was barren...and Rebekah his wife conceived. Yahweh said to her, “Two nations are in your womb...The elder will serve the younger.” The boys grew. Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field. Jacob was a quiet man, living in tents...Esau said to Jacob, “Please feed me with some of that red stew, for I am famished.” Therefore his name was called Edom. Jacob said, “First, sell me your birthright.” Esau said, “Behold, I am about to die. What good is the birthright to me?” Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” He swore to him. He sold his birthright to Jacob."
Genesis 25:5, 8-9, 21, 23, 27-28, 30-34
The Word of God is always challenging the ways we think. Culturally at that time the oldest child was the most blessed. For God to declare that the older would serve the younger was to flip expectations upside down. Look at how Esau gives up a spiritual blessing, His birthright, for a physical desire. It would be easy to judge this action, but how often do I allow the pressures of the immediate to impact my eternal perspective? What does is my birthright as a child of God adopted through the blood of Jesus?
“My God, I have trusted in you...Show me your ways, Yahweh. Teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation. I wait for you all day long...He will teach the humble his way. All the paths of Yahweh are loving kindness and truth"
Psalms 25:2, 4-5, 9-10, 14, 18
It is amazing to hear a king, David, cry out God for guidance. How are God's ways different from our ways and His thoughts different from my thoughts? What is a truth that He has taught that can help me love others better?
“It is the glory of God to conceal a thing, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter...Don’t exalt yourself in the presence of the king, or claim a place among great men...If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat. If he is thirsty, give him water to drink; for you will heap coals of fire on his head, and Yahweh will reward you.”
Proverbs 25:2, 4, 6, 13, 21-22
Solomon says that the wise way to live is to respond with kindness to those who have not been kind to you. He teaches the importance of living for God. Am I willing to do this? Think of the person that you most dislike or annoys you the most. Would you feed them? Would you give them a drink?
“Yahweh, you are my God. I will exalt you! I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago, in complete faithfulness and truth. For you have been a stronghold to the poor, a stronghold to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm...He has swallowed up death forever!"
Isaiah 25:1, 4, 8
We all love it when God does wonderful things for us. We praise when we feel blessed. Isaiah praises God because of how He cares for those who cannot care for themselves. He praises God for feeding the poor and his praises are a prelude to the words of Jesus.
“For it is like a man going into another country, who called his own servants and entrusted his goods to them...Now after a long time the Lord of those servants came, and settled accounts with them. He who received the five talents came and brought another five talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents. Behold, I have gained another five talents in addition to them.’ “His Lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant...He also who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you that you are a hard man, reaping where you didn’t sow, and gathering where you didn’t scatter. I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the earth. Behold, you have what is yours.’ “But his Lord answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant...Before him all the nations will be gathered, and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. Then the King will tell those on his right hand, ‘Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you took me in. I was naked and you clothed me. I was sick and you visited me. I was in prison and you came to me.’...“Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink? When did we see you as a stranger and take you in, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ “The King will answer them, ‘Most certainly I tell you, because you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’”
Matthew 25:11-12, 14, 19-26, 28-29, 32, 34-40
Jesus tells the people who will follow Him a very direct truth. What you do in this life matters to me. I have given you talent and am trusting you to use it to help make a difference in the world. Doing nothing is doing something and that will get you a costly reward.
How have you been gifted? Where is Jesus calling you to meet the world's needs and help the people in need in your life? Where would Jesus put you? Are you a sheep or a goat? Are you like Esau trading the eternal for the immediate or will you hold fast to your birthright as a child of God to love others like you are loving Jesus?