11th May 2025 - Serving & Pride

Mum sent me some thoughts she’d read about ‘How to Serve Like Jesus’ from the Verse of the Day on the Bible app. It was about when Jesus was washing the feet of his disciples (John 13:14) and made me think about how much pride naturally sits in our lives and how important and healthy it is to continually address that. Not that we shouldn’t feel good about things that we do, but more about stopping pride form building into entitlement and a ‘that’s someone else’s job’ mentality.

So, you can find what mum sent me by downloading the Bible app and reading the verse of the day from 9th May.

My thoughts are…

I think when you stop and imagine yourself as a disciple of Jesus with the way you naturally think being expecting a servant to wash your feet, to see someone you greatly value, love and respect do something deemed ‘below’ them; and then for Jesus to calmly and quietly follow it through despite your objections and allow that change to process in you to the point of acceptance in a deeply humbling experience, I think it’s challenging to think in our culture, ‘what do I naturally think is someone else’s job?’ , ‘what do I expect someone else to do?’

Even if you do a lot for others, even if you pick up the random piece of rubbish on the pavement and keep it until you find a bin, even if you go out your way for others, I think it’s very easy for pride to seep in and brings excuses like, ‘why should I?’ , ‘I’m in a hurry’ , ‘hopefully someone will do that’.

Doing things for others, even though you don’t do it for the thanks, still brings a sense of pride because most of the time you will get a thank you.

So I think there will always be something you can choose to do that will take you through that process of humility again and I think things that no-one sees or knows about are more powerful. Choosing to pick up every piece of rubbish you see on a walk and sticking it in your pocket even though there might not be a bin nearby or you’ll get dirty hands, or you’re just on a quick walk. Choosing to think, ‘what can I do for someone else today?’ Before thinking, ‘what do I need to get done today?’. I think those things help keep pride further down and humility further up, and choosing to do it slowly and purposefully I think helps us walk in step with God and see the things he sees in this world.

I don’t want these blog posts to be just me talking, I’m just one perspective! So if you wanted to, I’d love to know your thoughts too, I love a discussion!