Humble Your Heart

I work with teenagers which means my job frequently feels like I’m herding cats.

While I love the amazing high school and middle school students that I’m blessed to pastor, oftentimes they aren’t naturally the most… helpful. I usually have to prompt them to help me out with simple tasks like picking up their trash or setting up chairs on a Sunday. Let’s just say, parents of teenagers - I applaud you.

I actually love getting to train the ones who might not be naturally drawn to helping. But it’s always an encouragement when you find the gems who are naturally servant-minded and shine with maturity beyond their years. This year, Max, one of our high school boys, is one of those gems.

Max is a tall, hilarious kid, who always has an Office quote ready to throw at you whenever needed. But, above all, Max cares about serving others. And what makes Max unique: I never have to ask him to do something. I never have to prompt him. Instead, before I can even open my mouth to make a request, Max is usually asking me, “How can I help? What can I do?” Max willingly welcomes new students, sets up tables, vacuums rugs, and just does about anything possible to make church happen for his peers.

Now, I tell you this story, first to brag on how amazing teenagers are - don’t underestimate them! Second, to brag on his parents. They have done an incredible job raising this kid. But third, to have us think about what the natural bend of our hearts is. What makes Max so unique isn’t that he’s helpful. All of the teenagers I work with can be helpful, they’re all learning how to serve and love others well - a huge challenge when you’re young and battling all the influences of our world! What makes Max unique is that his heart is naturally bent towards serving. It’s not something I have to train him in, it’s not something I have to force - it’s just a natural response of his heart. He sees a need. He tries to help.

Max reflects an attribute of the best example of service we could ever have: Jesus. His perfect heart was always ready to respond to each and every need in the correct manner. And we look to him to learn how to respond to the needs of our world. There’s a section in Philippians 2 called “Imitating Christ’s Humility” that describes the kind of heart that I see in kids like Max:

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!

- Philippians 2:3-8

I am always floored by this passage. To think that the God of the universe humbled Himself to such a state of nothingness that He’d be tortured and killed for the people He loves.

That’s humility. That’s service. That’s a heart that naturally responds to needs, and gives everything in its power to meet them.

Jesus sets the example for us to learn from, and we see His example shine through those who follow Him. Kids like Max show the kind of humility that can only be learned from Christ. He isn’t worried about getting to the breakfast burritos before everyone else, so he’ll take his time setting up chairs. He’s willing to set aside his needs for the greater good of others.

Where is your heart at? What interests are you more concerned about? Friend, the truth is this: Max is only able to serve well because Christ first served him. We have the ultimate example of servant-hearted love in the life and death of Jesus Christ. He didn’t care about His personal gain, He gave everything for you. He lost it all so He could make sure He gained a forever with you. That’s the kind of heart that chooses us. So then we can go out and show that love to others who desperately need to feel chosen.

This week, remind yourself of the humility of your Savior. Then, invite Him to help humble your heart. With His shaping and molding, we can begin to look outside of our interests and start to see others' needs.

Let’s love like Jesus because He first loved us.

Cristina Schmitter

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