Which title, and which gifts, are the very best for us to seek?
By Dean Collins
I like Jude’s opening thoughts in his brief letter. His introduction is simple and direct: “A servant of Jesus Christ and the brother of James.” He didn’t claim apostleship or the title of elder. He was content to be called exactly what Jesus told his followers: If you want to be great in God’s kingdom, learn to be a servant of all.
Without status
I guess titles are helpful in some way, but they seem usually to get associated with power and status, which Jesus didn’t seem either to seek or suggest we should desire. Jesus consistently sought to be around those without title or status and had the most frustration with those whose identity was wrapped up in those things. Some scholars suggest that Jude was one of the 12, but if he was, he didn’t have the need to tell us when he wrote his epistle. He was content to be known as a servant of Jesus. I wonder if the world’s reaction to Christianity would be different if titles were eliminated and our reputation had little to do with power and more to do with service.
I heard a podcast this week where the host referenced a group of leaders who meet and support each other. They call themselves PIP which they say stands for “previously important people.” At one time they all had a job with a big title but soon realized that once they retired, their status had changed. I suspect we would all do better and get along better if we could relate to each other more as servants than as the variety of titles we tend to cling to and hide behind.
Best gifts
Jude, the servant of Jesus, offered this blessing and prayer over his readers: “May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.” I like that prayer.
Last week as we paused to celebrate Thanksgiving, I noticed many posts from people writing of numerous blessings they enjoy. Of course, we are thankful for family and friends and the gift of each new day. We are thankful for health and for medical professionals who work diligently when our lives are interrupted by disease. But of all the things we might name that we are thankful for, I think Jude’s short list of mercy, peace, and love might be at the top of the list.
I am grateful the mercy of God means that I will not get justice when it comes to my sins and mistakes. Because Jesus paid the penalty for our sins on the cross, we have received mercy. And since we continue to struggle with sin, it is a good thing mercy is multiplied to us.
Mercy is ours because we have also been offered peace. Not simply the absence of conflict with others and with ourselves but peace because we have entered into a right relationship with God through Christ. When Jesus paid for our sins, the gap that separated us from God was removed. Now we enjoy direct fellowship with God and have a peace that passes all understanding. Because we have a right relationship with God, we can enjoy peace with each other.
Jude’s third blessing, which is multiplied over and over, is love. From the beginning, God’s love for us included not just the wonders of all of his creation, but also the love of God and the joy of being known as his sons and daughters. As servants of God who all enjoy and benefit from the mercy and peace of God, we now through Christ become multipliers of his love to each other and to all the world.
The sooner we all let go of our desires to be known by our various titles that give us a sense of importance, the more likely we will be multipliers of God’s mercy, peace, and love. There is great freedom and blessing that comes when we, like Jude, are content to be known simply as servants of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Your time with God’s Word
Jude 1-2 ESV
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