Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to Jesus with her sons, bowing down and making a request of Him. And He said to her, “What do you desire?” She *said to Him, “Say that in Your kingdom these two sons of mine shall sit, one at Your right, and one at Your left.” But Jesus replied, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?” They said to Him, “We are able.” He said to them, “My cup you shall drink; but to sit at My right and at My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by My Father.” And after hearing this, the other ten disciples became indignant with the two brothers.

When people make a request where they may not be considering the ramifications if granted, we might say, “You don’t know what you are asking.” A teen may ask to drive the car without thinking about the responsibility it entails. A person may ask to watch your kids, unaware of the chaos that can ensue. The mother of the sons of Zebedee did not grasp the weight of what she was asking. On the surface, it sounded noble and good: She wanted the best for her sons. But her question was focused on status and position and did not consider the life of humble submission to the Father Jesus modeled. Instead of a life focused on human success, Jesus took on the life of a servant, finding His identity in God instead of human prestige.

Many of us can identify with this well-intentioned mother. When we think about serving, we consider what is convenient and if the investment will be worth it. It is true that our service can gain us volunteer hours for our resume and a good reputation in the community, but when our focus is on what we gain, we are no different than the mother who sought this high status for her sons. John 12:26 says, “If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.” When given the opportunity to serve, we may fear being forgotten, taken advantage of, or giving until we have nothing left for ourselves. But when we are serving with Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can trust that all we need will be taken care of by our heavenly Father.

• What is your typical motivation for serving others?
• What would it look like to trust God rather than trying to pursue a better status for yourself?
• Pray and ask God to show you where you are pursuing status instead of serving for His glory.