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The Waterboy

Jimmy Page's picture

By Jimmy Page

Posted
December 06, 2012

Ready: 

“Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.” – Jesus, Mark 10:43-44

Set: 

Last summer at FCA Captain’s Camp, high school athletes were pushed to their mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual limits. Thankfully, my job was simple – I was the “Waterboy”. When I was a high school athlete, waterboys were often treated as the “least” important part of the team. They did the job no one else wanted to do.

But Jesus never views those who play a seemingly “small” role as unimportant. He never looked down on those who served behind the scenes or did the jobs nobody else wanted. In fact, Jesus flips that concept on its head. He says the least among us will be the greatest. Those we consider great – the best players, the best coaches – will only be considered great in God’s eyes if they serve like the Waterboy serves.

In Mark 9:33-37, the disciples were arguing with each other about who was the greatest. We are often just like the disciples. We want to be great. We want to have all the attention. So Jesus called them all over and confronted them saying, “if anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.” Wow. Convicting, right?

Jesus came to serve out of the position of humility, not to sit in the place of honor. He didn’t seek status – he served. Those we think are least important, God considers the most important.

When’s the last time you heard someone say they want to be “the least”? That’s what Jesus became – the least. He served us and continues to serve us. Serving out of humility produces greatness. There is no other road to greatness. If you want to be great, you have to serve.

Go: 
  1. As a competitor or coach, is it easier to serve or be served? Why?
  2. How can you show others they are more important than you?
Workout: 
  • Philippians 2:3-4
  • 1 Corinthians 1:27-29
  • Matthew 23:1-12
Overtime: 

Father, thank you for modeling what it looks like to serve out of humility. Help me to find specific ways to serve those around me. Amen.

About the Author:

Jimmy serves as the Mid-Atlantic Vice President of Field Ministry for FCA. As a twenty-year medical fitness leader and former National Director of FCA Health & Fitness, he hosts Fit Fridays on 95.1 SHINE FM. Jimmy is an author of four best-selling books – WisdomWalks, WisdomWalks Sports, PrayFit, and One Word That Will Change Your Life. He is a coach, cyclist and triathlete. He and his wife, Ivelisse, started a cancer foundation called believebig.org following her victory over cancer. They reside in Maryland with their four children. You can e-mail Jimmy at jpage@fca.org.