The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-01-16
"rHE SERVANT or ALID
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II am among you as he that serv-
eth. Luke xii. ~.
Who Is the speaker And what does
He say OF Himself? 1t Is the Lord
Jesus Christ. the mighty God, who
calls Himself "the servant of all.A 10
does not wish His majesty to be disco
ciated from His work as a servant. lie
himself has linked the two together
more than once in His teachings.
"Whosoever of you will be the chief.
he shall be the servant of all; for even
the Son OF man came not to be minis
tered unto. butte minister. This Ia the
lesson lie teaches Ills disciples again
and again. He shows them, by word
ana example, IL He bent Ills head to
the yoke OF service, why should not
they? And when He had taught Ills
sublime parable Of humanity, when
He had risen from supper and had
washed the feet of the disciples like
any common slave, ~ I them" He said,
your feet, ye ought also to wash one
another's feet
He was not afraid Of compromising
His dignity; indeed, He but empha-
sizes Els dignity in this very act OF
His self abasement. Not to be served,
but to serve-this was to be the rulo
Of the new kingdom. Thrones tot
tered. hoary oonvenuonalities received
their death sentence, when tho Great
est spoke and acted thus. But here
was moro than q new doctrine; grace
was also here-thc glowing. shining
miracle Of mercy. The moro we dwell
upon 1t, the moro adoring the graft
tude and wonder that He. tho high
est, should stoop to serve the hum
blest, and thus. though tho holiest,
give to the sinfulest rest by His sor-
row and life by Els DEATH
The wonder becomes even greater
when we consider the extent to which
He carried out His idea OF service.
Rusl1in speaks scornfully OF those who
are very willing to be known as SER
wants Of God. but whose idea, OF SER
vice is to ride behind the chariot
wearing splendid livery. Tolstoi asks,
How far does the law OF love de-
mand that shall go? Where shall I
draw the liner" And he answers his
own questions thus: "Only that love
is true love which knows no limit-to
sacrifice even to death" The great
principles which underlie these words
should help us to clarity our vision
OF ourselves, our neighbors and OF
Christ. What about ourselves? Are
we seeking to be great In the king
dom2 Are we careful of our dignity7
Arc we standing on our rights. filled
our lives like conquerors coming into
the new Kingdom? The Master leads
the way! He, the greatest of all, was
never greater than when He stopped
to serve He was never so royal as
when He committed Himself to life
and death of service. II we are eager
for honor. remember 1t Is more i'm.
portant to deserve 1t than to get 1t
Christ's measure OF service was the
cross. And what about others? VIZ
must pierce below the circumstances
of rank and wealth, and recognize
true worth wherever 1t is found. The
unproductive Is the disgraceful life
The life OF service is itself q crown
of glory. The life most worthy o,
honor and praise In the home, the
church, the state, Is that life thai
shows the most faithful record OF
service. God Himself honors that life
and blesses it.
And what of Christ. who has taush
us this? Because He was to tho ut
termost servant of your interest, le
Him have His reward in being mad
the Master Of your whole being. Thu
laborer is worthy Of his hire. TIL
servant is wronged If he does not re
ceive his wages. The only reward
asked by this Servant OF the Lord !
yourself! Give Him that. and He shall
see of the travail OF His soul and b
satisfied.
On the whole, we should rather Sc
Mr., Taft a pacemaker than peace
maker.
nrs7 n