Luke 22:10-12 - Serving Without Recognition

Luke 22:10-12 (ESV)

[10] He said to them, “Behold, when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him into the house that he enters [11] and tell the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ [12] And he will show you a large upper room furnished; prepare it there.”

What a contrast between this master of the house and Judas. Judas has been one of the inner twelve disciples of Jesus, yet he took money to betray Jesus. The master of the house, on the other hand, is left nameless. We assume that he must be a disciple of Jesus on some level to allow his house to be used like this. But it doesn’t seem to be someone they knew well, or Jesus would have just said, “Go to so-and-so’s house.” Still, whoever this was remained insignificant. For no reason other than that he was asked, he opened his house to Jesus’ use.

What if we were less concerned about getting credit and being recognized, and more concerned about simply being available to however God would use us? How might that change how we live, how we serve, how we interact with others? For a while I saw a lot of video clips of people giving money, water, or food to people in need. At first it seemed like a good thing. A random act of kindness that we should celebrate. But then I realized that it wasn’t an act of kindness at all. It was a way of building an online following. It was hollow giving at best. The giver received way more than the one helped. Jesus, on the other hand, told us to give without seeking recognition. That’s what the master of the house did. No one will ever know his name, but he opened his house at the disciples’ request. May our serving be like that.


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