Gotta Serve Somebody

Several years ago I saw an unforgettable New Year's cartoon. A man was seated at a desk with a long roll of paper falling to the floor. The caption read, “This is the year!” It was obviously a list of New Year's resolutions. At first I thought the length of the list was due to the many resolutions he was making, but as I looked closely, I realized most of the list consisted of scratched out New Year's dates. He was actually making the same New Year's resolutions over and over again for years!

Sound familiar? I’m sure you're aware that many well-intentioned New Year's resolutions are never realized. How many times have you resolved that this is the year you will lose weight, quit smoking, exercise and get fit, get out of debt, or get your life organized? Psychologists report about half of us will make New Year's resolutions this year, but about 80% of our resolutions will never happen. They describe making resolutions as a near pointless activity that leaves people feeling despondent when their willpower fails.

Clearly, sheer willpower alone doesn’t work. As one person put it: “I want to do what is right, but I can't. I want to do what is good, but I don't. I don't want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.” The quote sounds contemporary, but it was written 2000 years ago by the apostle Paul. (Romans 7:18b-19) He had to admit that at times he struggled to be led by the Spirit, and at these times, he found himself in bondage to the desires of the flesh. Anyone who has ever opened a bag of cookies intending to eat just one, and then eaten at least a dozen, can relate to Paul's predicament.

Whether we like it or not, we cannot operate totally autonomously. Psychologists tell us that those people most likely to keep their New Year's resolutions share their goals with others and become accountable to them. We need to keep our own abilities in perspective, and realize that often we need help and encouragement from others if we are to be successful.

Insisting on independence, when we really need assistance, is a sure recipe for failure. This type of unhealthy self-dependence we call arrogance. It is the refusal to recognize our own self-limitations, humble ourselves, and accept the help we need. In order to receive however, we must recognize the abilities of others, instead of seeing ourselves as more capable than everyone else.

This is the essence of true humility: admitting our limitations and appreciating what others can contribute. Philippians 2:3–4 tells us: “Don't be selfish, and don't try to impress others. Be humble. Don't look out for your own interests, but take an interest in others too.” When we knowledge our need for others, we become aware they also have needs, and we are willing to serve them. God created us to be dependent upon Himself and on others. Understanding we also need God, makes us more willing to serve him.

True success in life depends on whom we’re serving, ourselves alone, or God and others. Serving ourselves, or selfishness, limits us and keeps us in bondage. Bob Dylan describes our choice well in his song “Gotta Serve Somebody.”

You may be an ambassador to England or France
You may like to gamble, you may like to dance
You may be the heavyweight champion of the world
You may be a socialite with a long string of pearls

But you've gotta serve somebody
It may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you've gotta serve somebody

Come join us this Sunday, New Year's Day at 11:00 AM. Our topic is “Humility,” and we will discuss the freedom that exists in choosing to serve God and others. This is the first in our new series “What the H of HROCK?

Pastor Che