Vestry Devotional: "What's In It For Me?"

One of my goals in this new year and the newly elected vestry of our parish is to focus on our collective formation. Vestry meetings can tend to focus on the business of the Church (which is necessary) while ignoring the fact that we are not a business but rather a community of faith. Each month I will be posting the devotional I've written and shared at our most recent meeting. As clergy and lay leaders my prayer is that all of us can take the time to break open God's word and engage those spiritual muscles which help us to be good stewards of God's kingdom.

Let me know what you think and please give feedback. Thanks for reading!

Vestry Devotional: February 2025

Matthew 20:20-28: The Request of the Mother of James and John

20 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons, and kneeling before him, she asked a favor of him. 21 And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Declare that these two sons of mine will sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” 22 But Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?”[c] They said to him, “We are able.” 23 He said to them, “You will indeed drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left, this is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”

24 When the ten heard it, they were angry with the two brothers. 25 But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. 26 It will not be so among you, but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave, 28 just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many.”

Reflection

Sometimes the world feels motivated by a singular question: “What’s in it for me?” Often leaders are motivated by personal ambition, greed, or glory, or to have things done their way. Because they are in it for themselves, they do not put the needs of others over their own. 

As Christians it’s tempting to ask what’s in it for me when thinking about serving the Church. The apostles bickered with one another over who would be the greatest in the kingdom or who was the most beloved. Jesus bursts their bubble quickly. He said, to become great was to first to serve others. Thankfully, they learned this lesson. They also gave their lives to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with the whole world. Their earthly reward included martyrdom, exile, beatings, shipwrecks, and all kinds of suffering. But their heavenly reward was a crown of glory. 

Their example of service is why the servants of Jesus don’t ask God, “what’s in it for me?”, instead they ask, “Lord, how may I serve Thee?”

As members of the Vestry and leaders of the Church, we have committed ourselves to be the chief servants of this parish. We follow Christ’s example of servanthood by placing the work of the kingdom above our own ambitions. We give our lives through our willingness to step forward and serve those under our care and those in our community who need to be welcomed and shown the love of God. Jesus didn’t come to be served but to serve. As his disciples we are called to follow his example.