25 Jesus said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. 26 But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. 27 For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.
If we are to follow the lead of the Leader, we are to serve. The motivation for our actions is love; the glorification for our actions belongs to Jesus. I love the following quote by George Whitefield that I read recently:
“Oh, that I may learn from all I see to desire to be nothing and to think it my highest privilege to be an assistant to all but the head of none.”
5 Should you then seek great things for yourself? Seek them not. Jer 45:5 (NIV)
God is the one who exalts mere flesh – we are not the ones to do it. Indeed, we are not to be occupied with lifting our heads or even our eyebrows for that matter! King David rightly praised:
11 Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. 12 Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. 1 Chron 29:11-12 (NIV)
As God is the Giver of all things, what right is it of man to elevate himself above others?
16 Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:16-17 (NIV)
6 Now, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, "Do not go beyond what is written." Then you will not take pride in one man over against another. 7 For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not? 1 Cor 4:6-7 (NIV)
“But humility is the only acceptable posture of a person in relation to the God who gives a wide variety of gifts on the basis of grace and therefore alone is deserving of praise.” Bible Knowledge Commentary
"This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word. Isaiah 66:2 (NIV)
“I care not who is uppermost. I know my place...even to be the servant of all.” George Whitefield
“In the Kingdom, there are no great men of God, just humble men whom God has chosen to use greatly. How do we know when we are humble? When God speaks, we tremble. God is looking for a man who trembles at His word. Such a man will find the Spirit of God resting upon him; he will become a dwelling place for the Almighty. God asks for nothing but ourselves.” Francis Frangipane
As believers in Jesus our lives should be consistently manifesting the fruit of the Spirit rather than the flaws of the flesh. It would behoove us to fan into flames this fruit - given to every believer by the way, instead of shrinking it by our poor behavior. Beth Moore gives the following concise definitions to each fruit we find listed in Galatians 5:22-23 briefly demonstrating to us how they are to shine forth in a life:
25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. Gal 5:25-26 (NIV)