Lessons from the Heart
The servant
By Pastor James Franklin

Many readers of this publication attend small "country" churches. Most of these churches were established generations ago.

The descendents of the founding families still attend these churches and remain the backbone of their ministries.

Time waits for no one. Just a handful of World War I veterans are still alive. The World War II "Greatest Generation" is also quickly passing from the scene. It is the great privilege but also the melancholy duty of pastors to help these families bury their elderly parents.

Flora Grace Brethren Church recently lost the matriarch of a backbone family. This dear lady was a key member of this church for many years. She was not an upfront leader but worked quietly behind the scenes. No church of any size will survive long without workers such as her.

One day James and John asked Jesus to place them in the most prominent positions, one at His right hand and the other at His left. Jesus was not amused.

He scolded them: "You don't know what you're asking!" It was not for a disciple to choose his place of service, much less his reward.

The Lord then told these gloryseekers one of the great contradictions of Scripture: "But it is not this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of all."

Americans love personalities such as the Hollywood superstar, the famous athlete, the prominent politician, or the ultra-rich investor. Even the American church is victim to hero-worship. Leaders of mega-churches give seminars on how to grow a church from nothing to thousands of members. They write books about their experiences. Leaders of small churches buy these books so they can grow their churches.

Our friend was not this way. She served her family and her church. But it is also likely that when she finally stood before the Lord Jesus this dear woman heard the most precious words of all: "Well done, good and faithful servant. Come and join in your Master's happiness."

Jim Franklin is pastor at Flora Grace Brethren Church.