He came to serve, not to be served

Here is another old Myspace post (Jan 2009). Was really convicted after reading it; I've been living in a season of selfishness lately. So. I won't say enjoy it, because it was painful for me to read, but I'll be praying that God will use it in your life to draw you closer to Him! 
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[Jesus said,] Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave — just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (matthew 20:26-28) 

[Jesus said,] He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor. (john 12:25-26) 

For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.[leviticus 19:18]” (galatians 5:13-14) 

Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” (revelation 7:15-17) 

They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?” Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. (john 8:33-35) 

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. (romans 6:1-6) 

And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. (romans 6:18-19) 

For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (romans 6:20-23) 

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people are selfish. inherently. since when did you ever see a little kid who wasn't out for himself? you don't have to teach kids to love themselves more than anybody! 
adults are just older kids. they are just as selfish. most adults want that dream job, no matter the cost of acquiring it (even if it's at the expense of the wife and kids, or an old friendship); they will work ridiculous hours to afford all the things they have to have like internet and cable and that nice house and that nice car and those 1,000 pairs of shoes and that new diet food; they would much rather fork over thousands of dollars for a vacation to a tropical island than give that much to kids overseas who don't know what it's like to have electricity or running water or a toilet. 
what is it exactly that you're feel like you're entitled to? 
Jesus turned the world upside down when He showed up and started teaching, because He pointed out that being great has nothing to do with what other people think about you. It has nothing to do with your graduate degree or your job or how much money you married into or your corporate title. He could not stand the religious leaders of the day who were so selfish and self-absorbed that they were neglecting the needs of their people so they could live in comfort and security. Jesus said that in order to be 'great,' you have to lay down your selfishness and your pride and serve other people. live a life where others come first. (not just show up on volunteer days for a few hours or give canned goods once a year to the food bank - but daily laying down your needs and wants for the good of other people!) 
i think that makes people really uncomfortable. 
nobody wants to be labeled a 'servant' or a 'slave.' why would you? i think most people want to be know as 'their own boss' or 'independent' or 'self-sufficient' or 'master of their own fate,' not as someone who lives a life indebted to someone else - it's humiliating! 
but that is what Jesus calls us to do and to be. not because He glories in our humiliation, but because He knows that the only way for someone to be truly fulfilled is to dedicate his or her life to serve God and to serve other people in love. think about the most joyful people you know. most likely, it's not the ones with a six- or seven-figure income with the broken marriage and large house that they can't afford the mortgage on and kids that they have to hire a nanny for. it probably is your friends or family members who rejoice in a life of volunteerism and spending time helping other folks out for no reason other than they love to help people. 
i would encourage you to give your life to God; serve Him and serve the people around you. be a servant to those you know, and those you don't know. i think you'll find that it is way more rewarding than any material gain you could dream of! 
p.s. as you give your life to serving the Almighty God, and as you accept the fact that Jesus (as the ultimate servant of man) laid down His life for you and paid the penalty for your sins, you will no longer be a slave to the sin that has held you captive for so long...being a servant brings freedom. but don't take my word for it...believe it because God says so in the Bible!