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The ButlerA couple of Mindy’s friends suggested that her and I watch this movie titled The Butler. I have been on a historical kick with my movies lately having just watched Vice (about Vice President Dick Cheney, which I enjoyed) and a Steve Jobs documentary. I have been reminded in those movies that those that got made fun of historically probably did more for us than we know, and that a successful person certainly doesn’t equal a great person.
The Butler kept me in that historical theme. It was great to watch the line of presidents and see it through the eyes of an African American butler. In so many ways, coming from the cotton fields of the south to a butler in the White House equaled success, but what truly defines success? |
Questions:
What is success to you and why?
Do you have a false impression of those who have been successful?
How does loving people come into the equation of success?
Is service the ultimate form of success?
What is success to you and why?
Do you have a false impression of those who have been successful?
How does loving people come into the equation of success?
Is service the ultimate form of success?
Pastor Will’s Reflections
And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.” Mark 9:33-37
Cecil had a truly amazing journey in life. He certainly saw his parents treated poorly and not liked by people at all. Yet even some of his early times in the south prepared him to be the butler he was. Cecil had to make his own way through life, and thankfully, Jesus provided some great people to guide him. One of those people taught him the art of serving others and still respecting himself. Louis, Cecil’s son, struggled with it. He wanted to make sure they were treated equally. Cecil fell into the trap of only serving the privileged he worked for, and at times, forgot about his family. To Louis, Cecil had forgotten how unfairly he was treated. In the end, Louis helped open Cecil’s eyes to the passage in Mark 9:33-37 (written above) about being a servant of all.
Cecil was an amazing servant and learned to keep growing in his servanthood. It is a great example for us as extraordinary servants as we ask the question how we keep growing in our servanthood? Jesus was teaching His disciples that serving is a constant “work in progress.” Too often we will be shaped by what our culture says service is, but there are many who need to be served, whether it is the little children that society passed over in the time of Jesus or different races we pass over today. I pray this movie is a blessing to you as you think through the art of being an extraordinary servant.
And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.” Mark 9:33-37
Cecil had a truly amazing journey in life. He certainly saw his parents treated poorly and not liked by people at all. Yet even some of his early times in the south prepared him to be the butler he was. Cecil had to make his own way through life, and thankfully, Jesus provided some great people to guide him. One of those people taught him the art of serving others and still respecting himself. Louis, Cecil’s son, struggled with it. He wanted to make sure they were treated equally. Cecil fell into the trap of only serving the privileged he worked for, and at times, forgot about his family. To Louis, Cecil had forgotten how unfairly he was treated. In the end, Louis helped open Cecil’s eyes to the passage in Mark 9:33-37 (written above) about being a servant of all.
Cecil was an amazing servant and learned to keep growing in his servanthood. It is a great example for us as extraordinary servants as we ask the question how we keep growing in our servanthood? Jesus was teaching His disciples that serving is a constant “work in progress.” Too often we will be shaped by what our culture says service is, but there are many who need to be served, whether it is the little children that society passed over in the time of Jesus or different races we pass over today. I pray this movie is a blessing to you as you think through the art of being an extraordinary servant.
