Introductions

I’m not one for introductions. Let me clarify; I mean the introductions you find at the beginning of books. Personally, I just want to get to the meat of it, the content I care about, to jump right into the story. I pass the preface and acknowledge the acknowledgments with a surface glance. But my son, a budding author, would challenge me on my dismissal of the introduction. He actually takes the time to put what I consider the real reading on hold until he’s read a book’s prefatory pages. 

Honestly, I can’t say he’s wrong in that. Introductions are important - in fact (I confess it) they add meaning to the "real" story. They are valuable - especially in Scripture. Let's take a look at Paul's introduction from his letter to the church at Philippi,

Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ¹

What hits you in this introduction? Does anything stand out to you? Something struck my wife this morning as we were reading this passage together: why did Paul specifically mention the overseers and deacons? Wouldn’t these leaders in the church have been included in “all God’s holy people”? Certainly, they would have; but perhaps Paul is making a point by expressly mentioning the overseers and deacons. Maybe, Paul was subtly saying,

"Position does not exclude one from service."

Perhaps he wants us to understand that titles do not excuse a person from humble servitude, that our calling does not place us above others in the kingdom of God, it simply qualifies us to serve others with the gifting we have received from God. I say this because Paul speaks of the value of lowly service in this letter.

Philippians chapter two gives us a powerful and moving description of the ultimate act of humble service by propounding the mindset that Jesus held, the attitude he valued, in his relationship with us. ² The king became a pauper; the Son of God became the Son of Man. God dwelt with us. There has never been a greater distance travelled to win back the affection of a loved one. From the highest of heights to the lowest of lows, the Savior crossed from eternity into time to rescue us. No lofty ideal could stop him from winning us to himself.

Did you notice that Paul never introduces himself with titles or letters? He does not try to impress upon us the greatness of his apostleship. No, out of the gate, he simply gives his name and associates with it with the lowly position of slave, of a willing bondservant. Shouldn’t we take that tact as well? Shouldn’t the introduction of us, our story, our lives, be devoid of a steady stream of our accolades and accomplishments and be free from any self-exaltation? Shouldn't we consider others above ourselves?

Hard? I know it is. Challenging? To our very core. But our Lord has modeled for us how we should think and live in our relationship with one another; he has called us to follow him. And know this my friend, if he’s called us to it, by his grace he will enable us to live it. There is no greater position than to be the servant of all.

References

¹ Philippians 1:1-2

² Philippians 2:5-8