So, who’s the little guy in our life? Is it the boy down the street who’s just learning to ride his bike, or how about the new office employee who’s stepped into an entry-level position?
It’s the totem pole thing…who’s on top, and who’s on bottom. Our totem can represent anything: age; experience; finances; health.
Even our relationship with Christ can take on a totem pole-like appearance, with cardinals, bishops, and the lowly laity, each showing up at different stations for prayers on Sunday morning.
Where do our servants fit into this totem pole? Several decades ago, a British comedy came out called Upstairs, Downstairs. It illustrated the differences between the lives of the wealthy in the main portion of the house, and the servants in the kitchen downstairs. More recently, many of us are familiar with Downton Abbey. In this version, the aristocrats in the manor have a vested interest in the servants living beneath their feet, and they treat them very much as family.
The people they depend on to maintain their lives and keep their house functioning in an orderly fashion have become important to them, and when their servants hurt, their masters hurt with them.
Matthew 8:5-6 tells the story of the centurion with a suffering servant.
“When [Jesus] entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him, ‘Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly.’ ”
The central part of this story lies not in the healing, although Jesus certainly did that for the centurion, but rather, let’s bring out the centurion’s willingness to appeal to Jesus in the first place. The centurion didn’t come in power and might, placing a demand simply because it was his right. He came pleading for healing, not for himself, but for a servant he cared deeply about.
Matthew 8:8 paints a picture of the centurion’s humble spirit.
“The centurion replied, ‘Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed.’ ”
How do we treat the little guy we associate with every day? The lawn man, do we greet him as an equal, or as a nuisance? How about the cashier at the grocery store, or the woman pushing a broom at the big box store? Or do we just see a little man, one who’s not our equal and not worth a little bit of our day?
Next time we’re out to eat, have a meaningful conversation with the waitress. It may only be two sentences, but it might make the difference in her having a miserable day and the best day of her life.
When we care about other people, we place them above us in our prayers, actions, and honor.
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Code: FGO.K.05.15.vp.esv