My professor once told us a story of what an old rabbi described heaven and hell to be like. When he looked into hell it was a beautiful dining room with a large table surrounded by people. He could smell the savory stew that sat before them all. The room was filled with the thick aroma of a hot, delicious, pot of stew. However, when he looked at the people, they were all famished, miserable, and on the verge of starving. Then he saw that the spoons everyone had to serve themselves with were extremely long; long enough for everyone at the large table to reach the pot of stew, but too long for them to be able to get the spoons into their mouths. Thus, they all starved. When he looked into heaven, it was the same room - large table, lots of people, delicious stew. However, everyone in this room was joyful, full, and sharing the glory of a good meal together. The difference? The people in this room learned to use their extra-long spoons to feed one another, and thus they were filled.
God created man for community, and He created man to bring Him glory. What does this mean? God did not create us to be self-serving, but to serve. He created us to bow to one another and to Him, for in our bowing He is glorified, and we reflect His perfect love to those around us. The Word is clear that the Lord opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble (Proverbs 3:34). The Lord directly resists those who are prideful, self-serving, and self-righteous. But, to those who humble themselves, bow to Him, and lay down their lives for others, He gives grace and His inheritance. What greater example do we have than Jesus Himself? For though He was God, He did not cling to that equality. Rather He gave it all up and humbled Himself to human form and humble himself further to death on the cross for the sake of the world. From there God lifted Him above all others and gave him a place of highest honor (Philippians 2:5-11). Jesus turned the world upside down. Rather than coming to make Himself a King by force and power, He made himself small and loved those who were forgotten and unloved. By doing this, the world was forever changed by the Gospel and the Kingdom of God is exalted.
So, what does that mean for you, for me? It means that it is healthy, it is good for us, to bow. It is literally good for our souls and healthy to put the needs of others before ourselves, to honor others before ourselves, and to exalt Jesus as true King of our lives. We can daily bow by serving others joyfully, by respecting and honoring those who others tear down, by stepping aside so another can get the prize. The more we bow ourselves to God and to each other, the more we store up treasures in heaven. Jesus reminds us that when we serve others for all to see, we receive our reward of the praise of people. But when we serve quietly, bowing ourselves low, God sees it and rewards us in eternity (Matthew 6:1-4). Why have the fleeting, momentary praises of man when we can instead have the eternal, glorious reward of intimacy with our Heavenly Father?
Practical Challenge: This week, find 2-3 (or more) ways to serve without notice or acknowledgement!