00:00 Esther – a joyful servant
2:56 “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.”
4:43 Faith that Doesn’t Give up on People
5:52 Activation: Find True, Lasting Joy by Seeking Joy For Others
She was almost 80 when I met her, an ordinary-looking woman, but she had such joy I did a double take. Her name was Esther.
She had been crippled, walking with a walker for over 10 years when God supernaturally healed her as my pastor prayed for her. Esther was so grateful. She pursued God and came to know him as few of us do.
After her husband died, Esther found joy in her family. She didn't dwell on the loss of her husband of many years. She celebrated those she had left. And they loved her dearly in return.
I came to know Esther well as she, our friend Gladys, Karen (my wife) and I went door to door in our small town and offered to pray for the people who lived in every home. We went every week until we had covered every street in our town. It took months. We just wanted to touch people with the love of God. And we did.
It was cold that winter. Bitter cold. Esther never complained and she never canceled. I watched her have joy through it all, knowing her old bones were aching.
I watched Esther as she listened to people with rapt attention. She connected with them. People opened up to Esther. They could tell she really cared.
Esther prayed from intimacy with the Father. She and God were old friends and she approached him as a much-loved daughter would approach her Dad, knowing he wanted to give her what she needed. She just talked to Him. It was so real and so personal. Her prayers made God real to those she prayed for.
Karen and I moved to South Florida shortly after that. The next time we saw Esther, she was in a nursing home. We had talked a few times on the phone. She was always upbeat, but we were concerned about her. We shouldn’t have been.
Upon arriving at the nursing home, Esther had rolled up her sleeves and gotten involved. She helped with social activities. She visited people who never had visitors. And she prayed, oh she prayed for the residents of that home. She prayed for their souls. She prayed for healing. She prayed for whatever people needed - including joy and peace in their final years.
Esther moved into that nursing home not as just another resident, but as a servant of God sent there to bless the people in that home. And she blessed them as her servant heart had blessed us in so many ways. We saw it firsthand. We asked and Esther told us stories of what God was doing in the home. And we praised God together.
Esther had health problems, but she didn’t want to talk about those. They weren't on her radar. She was wrapped up in the lives of her family and her new friends at the home.
I believe some of greatest people in heaven will be some of the most humble people here on earth.
The best definition of humility I've heard is attributed to Rick Warren who said: “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.”
C. S. Lewis, in Mere Christianity, described true humility:
“Do not imagine that if you meet a really humble man he will be what most people call ‘humble’ nowadays: he will not be a sort of greasy, smarmy person, who is always telling you that, of course, he is nobody. Probably all you will think about him is that he seemed a cheerful, intelligent chap who took a real interest in what you said to him. … you feel a little envious of anyone who seems to enjoy life so easily. He will not be thinking about humility: he will not be thinking about himself at all.”
Lewis just described the life of our friend, Esther. Humble, cheerful and enjoying life so easily. Can you imagine going to a nursing home and visiting an old friend, only to find out she had more joy than you did? We didn’t need to worry about Esther. We needed what she had.
Esther had discovered that The Secret Of True Lasting Joy Is Not To Seek Joy For Yourself But For Others.
Matthew 23:11-12 AMP says:
But the greatest among you will be your servant. Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be raised to honor.
Esther had faith that wouldn’t give up on people. She lived 1 Corinthians 13:7 AMP
“Love…believes all things [looking for the best in each one]…”
The key to Esther's life, her consummate joy, was a servant heart. She was one of few people I've met who truly didn't live for herself; she found joy in living for others.
The result of Esther's servant heart was an extraordinary life - a life filled with extraordinary joy. She attracted people to her because of her buoyant spirit and infectious joy. She was fun.
Even as her physical strength faltered, her joy never did. Her trust in Jesus never waivered.
I was inspired by my dear friend. She inspired me to live more for others. The times when I’ve cared more about others than myself, I’ve found that serving others is one of the secrets of true, lasting joy in life.