Welcome to 15 Minutes in the Word with New York Times bestselling author Joyce Meyer. On today's program, Joyce will be teaching from her series, Enjoying Successful Relationships. God wants to bless us, but we must get along. Because where there is unity, there is blessing and anointing. So it's our job to learn how to set aside our own agenda and serve one another through love. Now, here's Joyce with today's teaching. So I'm going to do a little object lesson here tonight, and I'm going to wash three people's feet. And each one of them represents a group of people. And we'll see that even if we ever get around to being willing to wash feet, then we might be willing to wash some feet, but not other feet. Now I guess I shouldn't assume that you all know what I'm talking about, but surely you know that this is not really about washing feet, don't you? I mean, you do know that he did this as an example to show people how they were to live. And the message here is learn to be a servant. Learn to serve other people. You say, well, I want to be in the ministry. Well, the word minister means servant. Most people want to be famous, and that's okay as long as you want to be famous in heaven, and you're not concerned about being famous here. Let me tell you something. The 80 or 90 or even if you were extremely blessed and lived 100 years old of time that we live here is nothing. It's one grain of sand on all the beaches in the whole world compared to eternity. We better learn how to live for eternity and not just live for the little zing that we get out of our time here. Because we're going to be around for a long, long, long time. And thank God that somebody is telling you this if you've never heard it. It's great to hear that God wants to prosper us, and I believe that it's great to hear that he wants us to succeed and give us the best of everything, but I can also tell you there's something else he wants. He wants us to die to self, get over being the center of our own life, and literally become spies for God. I mean, I want to turn you into a Holy Ghost spy where every morning you get up and you pray and you get ready and you've prayed for God to put people in your path and you go out of your house, I mean looking for somebody that you can help. Because I hope by the time tonight and tomorrow morning is over, you're going to get it. I mean, really get it in the spirit that this is not the lowliest. This is the highest profession that you can possibly have. But first of all, Martin, I'd like to wash your feet. Can I wash your feet, Martin Smith? Come on up here, brother. Let me wash your feet. Now, you know, I don't mind to wash Martin's feet. He's a famous worship leader. I mean, I'd kind of like to get to know Martin a little bit better, and it'd be kind of cool to just say, I washed Martin Smith's feet. Just sit right there and put your feet right in that water, brother. I'll tell him to wash these feet before he got here tonight. Now, listen, I'm serious. Well, you know, this just represents, and you know, there's something interesting about this whole thing. I mean, I've been in a couple of real foot washings and it's very humbling. And it's even more so usually for the person getting their feet washed than the person doing the washing. And you're going to see here in a few minutes that when Jesus wanted to wash Peter's feet and Peter said, oh, you cannot wash my feet. I'm not going to let you do that. He said, if you don't let me do that, then we have no part in one another. As you see, the only way that Martin and I can have a real relationship is if we're doing something for one another. And it's usually not a bunch of big stuff that even most people would notice. It's just things like your feet are dirty. Let me wash them off for you, brother. And really, what does it mean when I'm doing this? It simply means, Martin, I'm here to serve you. I love you. I think you're an awesome man of God. And I don't appreciate your worship, but I appreciate you as a human being. Amen. Okay, let's dry them off here a little bit. And I tell you, we need more of this because it breaks down the stupid pride in us. Thank you, brother. Now, you know, it wasn't really too hard to wash Martin's feet because like I said, you know, I know him and he's a cool guy and he's famous. And now I can say, I washed Martin Smith's feet. It's amazing sometimes the things that we're willing to do, but maybe not with the right motive. So I thought it would be good if I would wash somebody's feet that I didn't know at all. Did not know them, might not ever see them again. And we just so we'd have people ready, we've already picked this beautiful lady right here. Amen. Hallelujah. What is your name? Kendra. Well, I don't know you and you know, I may never see you again, but I believe God has asked me to just invest into your life tonight and just wash your feet. And by doing that, tell you that you're part of me, I'm part of you and we're both members of the body of Christ and God loves you and he wants to love you through me tonight. Amen. So I'm just going to wash your feet right here and take care of this. And by doing this, I'm saying that I want to help you and do anything that I can for you and I'm going to pray for you and I'm doing this as an example that as I help you, then maybe you'll be willing to go out and help somebody else. Amen. Amen. Thank you. You stay right here just a minute. You're pretty. We'll look at you in a minute. Let me give you a practical example that maybe will help you understand this. You know, honestly and truly sometimes even if we're willing to do stuff for other people, we're much more willing to do things for people that we like and know because after all, they'll probably tell us how wonderful we are and I can't believe you did that for me. You are so wonderful. And maybe they'll tell other people we know what we did for them. Come on. Don't look like a calf at a new gate. You know exactly what I'm talking about. But now when it comes to doing something for somebody that you don't know, don't have any natural interest in other than God loves them, then it's a different story. An example. I mean, I've been through enough of this so I know now. I've done it wrong for a long time, but thank God I've learned some things at least about doing it right. My daughter, my granddaughter went to school with a little girl who had very, very, very crooked teeth. All of her adult teeth were coming in, but her baby teeth were not falling out. And it was just an absolutely horrendous mess in her mouth. And of course, she's a little girl, you know, 10, 12 years old. I don't know exactly. And so she didn't ever want to open her mouth and she'd hold her hand over her mouth all the time and she'd look down all the time. The dad had lost his job and they had no way of helping her with the situation. And so my daughter came to me and she said, we got to do something to help this little girl. And she said, you know, Doug and I, that's her husband, she said, we can't, we can't afford to do it all, but would you and dad be interested in helping? And I said, absolutely, absolutely. And I'm not telling you that because I think I'm a good person, but I'm trying to tell you a better way to live. Then why should I do that? I don't know them. You know, let somebody else in her family fix her teeth. You know, we're always wanting somebody else to do it. I still have not seen her. I probably never will see her, but she now has a beautiful set of teeth and a beautiful smile on her face. And that's what it means to wash feet. That's what it means. It means to find a need and meet that need. Thank you, sweetheart. Now there's one last category of people that is really, really, really hard to wash their feet and that's family. So Dave, come on up. Now let me tell you something. You'll get this right away. If I took my shoes off and I said, who out there would come and wash my feet? All right. Look at you. Now, but what happens if your husband says, honey, would you wash my feet? Are you nuts? Wash your own stupid stinking feet. What do you think I am, a slave in this house? I ain't washing your feet. Come on, you got to get this. I mean, I know it's funny, but there's a message here. I mean, people will do as a ministry in church what they will not do for their own families at home behind closed doors. If I knocked my water over, 10 of you would jump up, clean it up. I'd have 10 more glasses of water before I knew what was happening. But if somebody spills it at home, I remember when my kids used to spill stuff. What is the matter with you? Can't you do anything right? I am so sick and tired of you making a mess every time you sit down at this table. Come on, don't make me work too hard tonight. I want you to get this. Hallelujah. So, he's anxious. So we really have to do things for one another. You know, the main thing that sours a marriage is because people stop doing little things for one another. They stop thinking that those things are important. They stop giving compliments. They stop helping. They stop washing one another's feet. So Dave, I'm committed to you. I'm willing to do little things for you and help you in whatever way that you need help. You're my man. I love you. And yes. Can I get a little reflexology here? That's the way it is at home. You give them an inch and they take a mile, right? There you go. Oh, I got to dry on me so it's okay. This is going to be great on TV, isn't it? I'm telling you. Come on. Oh, get out of here. Here, dry your own feet. Come on. If you understand my message, give God praise. You know what? I'm very serious about what I'm saying. So many marriages today are falling apart because people get married with this thought. What are you going to do to make me happy? And they don't realize they've got it backwards. Any relationship you get into, any relationship you get into, the first thing you should think is how can I make your life better? How can I help you? How can I edify you? How can I build you up? And there's something in us that screams, what about me? Can't you hear that cry coming out of the depths of your soul sometimes? Who's going to do something for me? You know, the thing is, is if we serve other people in whatever way we can, little ways, big ways, but lots of little ways. I mean, a lot of this really that I'm talking about tonight is little stuff that most people would never notice, but you know when God whispers in your heart and asks you to do it. You know that. People are all different, so we need to learn how to relate to everyone, not just those who are like us. We must learn to avoid strife by trying to keep unity and oneness with the people in our lives. If we truly want to be like Christ, we need to become a servant. We cannot become so busy that we refuse to be interrupted when someone needs help. Most of Jesus' miracles took place when we stopped along the way. A sincere, deep desire to help people is one of the most godly attitudes we can have. Galatians 513 says this, You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free, but do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh. Rather, serve one another humbly in love. The Bible, our instruction book for life. Spending time in God's Word will change our lives, but consistent and effective study can at times be challenging. That's one reason why Joyce is here to help. At JoyceMeyer.org slash Bible study, you'll find ways to make your study time come to life with helpful resources, study suggestions, and encouragement from Joyce. Get the most you can out of your time study in God's Word with everyday study. Sign up today at JoyceMeyer.org slash Bible study. Thank you for listening to 15 Minutes in the Word with Joyce.
