September 28

Serving Others

Jesus looked at him, loved him, and said to him, “There is one thing you lack: Go, sell everything you own and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.” — Mark 10:21 BSB

The advancement of photography, where even the tiniest details can be captured perfectly on something as small as a button, mirrors how the entire life of Christ is encapsulated in one simple, yet profound phrase: "The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many." (Matthew 20:28)

Christ didn’t come to be served. If His purpose had been to receive service, He would have stayed in heaven, surrounded by angels ministering to Him in all His glory. But instead, He chose to come to earth with a mission: to serve others. His entire life was marked by acts of kindness and healing, always putting the needs of others before His own. He even went so far as to give His life to save and redeem lost souls.

If we say we want to be like Christ, if we ask Him to imprint His image on our hearts, this is the image we must carry: not one of seeking personal greatness or admiration, but one of humble service. Jesus’ life was not about exalting Himself but about pouring Himself out for others.

Many people have misunderstood what it means to be like Christ. The old monks, for instance, believed they were becoming more Christ-like by retreating from the world, living in isolation and self-denial. But that’s not the kind of Christ-likeness Jesus embodied. His life was not about withdrawing from people, but about living among them, serving them, and giving Himself for their sake.

To serve and to give—that is the essence of following Christ. Instead of escaping the world and its challenges, we are called to engage with it, to bless those around us, and to dedicate our lives to the good of others. This is what it truly means to pray for Christ-likeness.

Jesus also taught that this is the true path to greatness in the kingdom of God. “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.” (Mark 10:43-44) To the world, this might seem like a strange way to achieve greatness, but in God’s kingdom, it is service and self-forgetfulness that elevate a person. The scrambling for power and recognition that we see in the world is, in reality, a race downward. The real heights of human life are reached through service and humility.

Christ calls us to use our gifts and abilities, not for self-glorification, but to do good in His name. That was His way, and it must be ours as well.