The joy of heaven is found in serving others

Shortly after Jesus tells his disciples he's going to be killed and that he'll be leaving them to set up his kingdom, his disciples start questioning Jesus about "who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" They were looking at this new kingdom through "earthly" eyes, and so they were trying to figure out what cabinet position Jesus might appoint each of them to in his administration. 

So Jesus, in response, pulls a child next to him and tells the disciples if they don't become more like that child they'll never even see that new kingdom. He tells them, "Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

The other day, I shared a story about my 11 year old son Ian becoming suddenly willing to help with the chores without being asked. It was intended to be a humorous post, really. But a lot of people responded with testimonies of their own children pitching in and helping out. 

You know, these are hard times for our kids. Confusing times. They see the adults in their lives struggling in some ways, they don't completely get it, and the only way they really know how to help the situation is to - well - to help out. 

Kids are pretty quick to slip into a servant's heart. Many times quicker than adults. Kids haven't been around long enough to be shaped into a desire to be the biggest and baddest and smartest and highest paid of the operation. So when the operation starts to collapse around them, and titles become worthless, they aren't as likely to feel lost as much as they might feel compelled to pitch in. 

Oh, trust me, I know kids aren't angels. Mine aren't. But my point is - in situations like we're in - humility is a little closer for kids to grab hold of than it is for many of us adults. 

I suppose some might read the verse below and interpret it as a threat. Jesus demanding: Be like a child or I'm not letting you in. But I don't hear it that way. 

I hear Jesus saying the joy of heaven is found in serving others. It's found in a humbleness that LONGS to serve others. I think Jesus is saying, if you can't find that joy in THIS kingdom, you'll never WANT to be a part of mine. And places you don't WANT to go - well you just never end up going there. 

I think Jesus was telling his disciples, look at this child - humble yourselves like this child - as a way to fuel their DESIRE for his kingdom. He wanted to help them see that the joy in his kingdom was found in the opportunity to elevate and celebrate others, and not in reaching a position that elevated themselves.
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Many of us have been humbled. Maybe more than ever in our lives, we are left with no more control over things than we had as confused kids. So maybe we do what many of our kids are doing in response. Maybe we just try to simply help out. 
And maybe in doing so, we discover the joy of heaven.