Built to Serveنموونە

The Missing Screw

Have you ever missed the smallest detail in a project that would have saved you a ton of frustration?

A missing screw that was right there a minute ago? A certain item you forgot to pick up at the hardware store? Or a wrong measurement that costs you a perfectly good 2x4?

As Christian men, we tend to believe that God has called us to two basic instructions:

Love God and love people.

But I wonder if we are missing a small detail in this.

In Luke 10, when Jesus was asked by a lawyer what the “greatest commandment” was, He turned the question back on the expert, and then agreed with the man’s answer:

“He (the expert) answered, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Luke 10:27 NIV)*

If we look at this answer, we will actually see three commands.

The first two, we tend to agree with: love God and love others.

It’s the third one that is more difficult:

“Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Luke 10:27 NIV, emphasis added).

This week, we will be looking into what it looks like to be men who live a life of putting others first.

But before we do that, we need to understand what it’s not.

It’s not a life of being a doormat and allowing others to take advantage of us. It’s not the idea of allowing everyone to go ahead of you in the grocery store while your wife and kids wait in the car. It’s not about being the “kind one” at the intersection and not following the traffic laws that say you have the right-of-way.

So, what does it mean to be called to a life of putting others first?

As we look at five biblical men and how they did that this week, I encourage you to start each session by reading The Good Samaritan account first (Luke 10:25-37), then read the devotional for the day. Doing this will give you a deeper grasp of living for others.

So, grab your Bible, and let’s let Jesus help us find that missing screw so that we can continue to put our project together.

Prayer: Jesus, thank You that when You call me to put others first, You also promise to show me how to do that. Help me to hear Your voice this week. Amen.

Reflection: Have you ever had a time when someone put you before themselves? What did that feel like?

* Unless otherwise stated, all biblical references will be the New International Version (NIV).