Slave

...we proclaim ... ourselves as your slaves ...

 - From 2 Corinthians 4

In the middle of a passage about light, and other very positive things, we see this reference to Paul, the writer. He is writing about himself. But when he talks about himself, it is not in an arrogant, or narcissistic way (sorry to use an overused word). 

Or it it?

Paul seems quite proud of himself, describing himself as a "slave." He even goes so far as to call the assertion, a proclamation. As in, something formal, or official. He is shouting from the rooftops, and confirming it by way of a notarized, legal document, that he is a slave to others . . .and this is how he seals his admission that he is in a class of person that, by the 21st Century would be characterized as the most debased and humble appointment. 

This is what being in the "light" means to Paul. 

We move into Lent later this week. It is a season within the church calendar, where self is denied and material possessions de-emphasized. 

I look around me, and find few people that are true servants to others. Much less, people that would aspire to it, and admit it. Even if we applied the tithing rule - - - 10% of your time spent as a servant, we would expect to see much more in the way of servanthood, than we see day to day. 

We can't describe people in politics as servants. There is too much power acquisition when it comes to politics. Business people can't be servants. If they aren't maximizing profits, they do not survive. People in academia are not servants. There is too much of their own personal agenda informing their practices. Doctors? Lawyers? It's too likely they chose their careers because of the money they could make, to be considered "servants."

Sometimes, a retired person adopts a lifestyle similar to servant-hood. But they had to wait until their retirement funds were secured. 

This is too much vague wording, so far. So what am I really saying? Let me suggest a few things.

• A true tithe. A real 10% of income, to go directly to charitable work that directly impacts people with real needs. 
• Stop maligning people that choose careers that serve.
• 10% of your time: 2.4 hours per day, in servant activities. That would be, like, give up your entire Saturday. 

So . . . it would be a very hard to thing to do. Do you see how only 10% of one's money and/or time, would make a huge difference?

And can you see how godly light would follow such a person around?