John 11:5 ESV – Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.

Lazarus is famous for one pretty impressive thing – Jesus raised him from the dead! But while we are all familiar with the story of Martha complaining to Jesus that she was doing all the work and most know about Mary pouring perfume on the Lord’s feet, we don’t really know much about Lazarus. In the Bible we do not even hear a single word he said. When we first meet Lazarus, it is at his sister Martha’s home, not his own. Later, after his resurrection his friends hold the party at a leper’s house named Simon. We don’t know if Lazarus is married, has children or any other detail about him, except that he was sick and died. His was a life that would not have given rise to an impressive resume by anyone’s standards!

But in spite of his unimpressive life, we learn one very important thing from our silent friend Lazarus. That single truth is that we don’t need to impress others to be loved by Jesus Christ. We don’t need the best grades, a good job or a wonderful family for Him to cherish us. None of these details matters more to Him than the simple fact that He has chosen to love us as His child and that, just like Lazarus He will call us from the grave to be with Him forever!

God loves each of us as if there were only one of us – Saint Augustine

But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant. Matthew 20:25-26 ESV

“Number 23!” The lady behind the counter calls out. “How can I help you today?”

“I’d like 1/4 lb. of baloney, 1/4 lb. of provolone, 1/2 lb. of potato salad and 1/2 lb. of whatever ham is on sale.” I answer. After several minutes of wrestling heavy rolls of cheese and meat in and out of the display case she returns with neat little packages of my requested items, then asks with a smile, “Will there be anything else?” Moments like these have convinced me that it isn’t the managers who work the hardest in a grocery store, it is the deli people. I also think that these folks have a special place in the heart of God. Today’s passage shows us why. The disciples were getting stressed out that day over who was the most person in God’s kingdom. In case you think we don’t do that, check out the avalanche of books on leadership, high priced conferences on building a successful career and outright financial gimmickry marketed daily to us. Though we rightly long for significance, just as the apostles did, Jesus tells us all that getting a management position in God’s Kingdom isn’t what matters. What is important to God is training for a job in His deli department! Now of course we shouldn’t just slice up the Bible to tell people what they want to hear, but should ask them about their needs, cheerfully serve and then be willing to ask, “Will there be anything else?” In a paraphrase of Psalm 84:10 we should say along with one of the greatest leaders, whose name was King David: “I would rather work in God’s deli department than be a manger in the devil’s super center!”