…All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another…
—1 Peter 5:5 (NIV)
Historically in Jewish tradition, you were what you dressed. If you were a servant, a carpenter, or a priest, any passerby on the street could observe your occupation based on your garments. A specific sash, tunic, or belt was worn to denote status.
In this verse, Peter urges Christians to be clothed in humility. When someone passes by us at the grocery store or we pull up to the Starbucks window, those around us should pick up on our humility.
Jesus was the Ultimate Servant. He laid aside His garments, took a towel, and girded Himself with it the evening before His death. Jesus had no issue doing this because His identity was rooted and grounded in God Almighty. He had nothing to prove. There was no façade to "live up to" to gain respect or popularity. And, therefore, He could do the dirty work with humility.
He served the disciples He had taught, day in and day out, for three years. The Son of Man didn't criticize the dirtiness of the adulterer, stick His nose up in the air while riding on the donkey, or allow His exhaustion to thwart the Father's will. He was completely given over and up to God’s work and ready for anything the Father wanted to do in and through Him.
Whether it is to God or others, we convince ourselves that we can only go so far, and that's it. After that, we're too tired, broken, or time constrained. However, as followers of Christ, we need to pick up the towel when others want to throw it in.
I’ll tell you a quick story: I visited my sister and her family in Kansas City one time, and I remember being super tired that weekend. I had already told myself I wouldn't do much because I deserved a day or two of relaxation. And I did just that – nothing. Instead, I chose to pack a bad attitude in my suitcase, and by Sunday, God had smacked my curly-haired head and reminded me that when I'm tired, there's someone else even more weary than I am.
God reminded me that when I am limitless in my service, He is limitless in His strength and provision. I realize life requires wise balance. I'm not insinuating that you run yourself crazy-mad when it comes to serving others, cheating yourself out of your own cup-filling. Instead, we must stay plugged into God to recharge and allow the torrents of Living Water to fill us.
Be limitless in your service. As scary as it's been, I've recently prayed this, and I hope you'll consider it too: