One of the interesting things about stressful situations is that the true character of men is revealed. This is especially the case in wartime. Men, who during training walked around the base camp like they were all that and a bag of nacho cheese Doritos, suddenly wet their pants in fear of the bullets whizzing by in all directions. Men, who hours earlier boasted of how they would be decorated from head to toe with medals and ribbons on honor, now run scared. They completely abandon their mission and their brothers of battle just to save their skin. On the flip side, there are men of valor who, once hidden, now shine out during these times of struggle. We hear of men who fell on grenades to save their fellow soldiers. We read the tales of troops going back into enemy territory to retrieve or rescue one of their own. And we hear of commanding officers standing at the forefront leading their men into the fight as opposed to shouting orders from the safety of the back lines. What is it that separates the men from the boys? The heroes from the zeros, so to speak? In a word- selflessness. Almost every single soldier who is glorified in a Hollywood movie is uplifted not because of some self-seeking goal they fulfilled or what they did to boost themselves up at the expense of others, but because of some selfless act they performed to better the lives of those around them. These men put others first and themselves last.
This is the in fact the very reason that Jesus receives the honor and glory that does. The creator of heaven and earth, the King of kings and Lord of lords gave up his throne in Heaven to come down to earth to be around His creation and serve them. He served by healing and mending broken hearts. He restored the spirits of those who were outcasts in society. And of course, He made us whole again by uniting us again with the Father. But he also met people’s physical needs. He healed different sickness. He fed the hungry. He provided spiritually AND physically for people. Jesus actually tells us that if we do not love others through service, then we have no part in him. Matthew 25:31-46 reads
31″When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34″Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37″Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40″The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’
41″Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
44″They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
45″He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
46″Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
Think of the men and women of faith (that you know personally) whom you admire the most. What is it that stands out to you? Their wisdom and understanding of the scriptures may be one of your answers, but chances are that your response was ‘their heart for others’ or ‘their desire to serve in ways that others would choose to avoid.’ Spiritually this is what separates the mature in Christ from the babes, or the spiritual “men from the boys.” It is only when our heart for others overflows into our daily behavior, as we restore both the body and soul of our neighbors, that we truly become formidable soldiers in the spiritual war we are waging.
