TEXT: Matthew 20:20-28

SUBJET: Choices

Life is a matter of choices. You may not want to choose, but to "not choose" is itself a choice. Moses implored his people to "choose life". Joshua made the choice urgent: "Choose you this day whom you will serve". There's no getting around it: You must choose.

What are the choices? You must choose between "serving" and "being served".

Each choice has its own consequence. He who chooses "being served" will be forever unhappy. Why shouldn't he be? Most others prefer "being served" too. Hence, a life of bitter conflict must follow his choice.

He who chooses "to serve", however, will be forever happy and useful. Happy, because he'll always have something to do; something meaningful and enriching. Useful, because he'll soon find plenty of people who need his service. Hence, a life of joy must follow his choice.

The Apostles chose "being served". And you see where it got them: "And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brothers". Why were they so angry, do you suppose? Here's why: each wanted the number one spot for himself!

The Lord Jesus chose "to serve". "The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for the many". Does He regret the choice? Not at all; He's "anointed with the oil of gladness above His fellows".

His choice "to serve" was made both once and often. Once, He chose to take upon Himself "the form of a servant". And He did. But that wasn't His only choice. Every day--every minute--He chose "to serve". As God, He is not under the Law of God. Yet He daily chose to serve that Law in all of its hard and painful minutia. As the Son of God, He was not obliged to obey His parents. Yet He daily chose to "be made subject to them". As "The King of kings and Lord of lords", He needn't keep the laws of man. Yet He daily "rendered to Caesar the things that are Caesar's".

Who do you think is right: The Apostles or our Lord?

The fact that you've gathered for the Lord's Supper indicates your thinking on the subject. For it is taken as the final proof of His choice. "The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve..." How do we know? Because "He gave His life a ransom for the many". We didn't die for Christ! He died for us! Therefore, He chose to serve us, not to be served by us.

We must chose likewise. We must make the big choice to be servants rather than lords. But we mustn't leave it there! We must make the million daily choices to serve rather than to be served. We must do it in the home and at work, in the neighborhood and at church.