Editor’s Note: Randall Goodgame spent all day at our first family conference, Inkwell, pouring his heart out for our guests, young and old. His featured sessions on songwriting were wonderfully fun and instructive, as well as inspiring. His concert (along with pal, Andrew Peterson) was magical. His new record, Sing the Bible with Slugs & Bugs, is a treasure-trove of singable Scriptures. These songs can be heard in our house, from speakers and from our mouths, all the time. This being our day for Discovering Resources, I can think of few better than this. –Sam
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If I have a favorite Bible verse, it is Luke 12:36-37. Strangely, it is a verse I never heard as a kid.
I grew up going to Calvary Baptist Church in Clearwater, Florida, and like most Baptist Churches, they were high on Bible teaching. Sunday School really was a mini school where you actually learned more about the Bible every week. We did Bible drills, memorized Bible verses and were generally dipped and soaked in ancient stories whenever we walked in the doors (I didn’t always enjoy it, but I was always there). Every kid brought a Bible to youth group, and to this day I still feel funny going to church without a Bible in my hand.
So it was somewhat astonishing to me, when Randy Draughon, the pastor of Midtown Fellowship (and my boss at the time), read this passage during a sermon on the character of God. How did I miss these incredible words spoken by Jesus himself?
It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes
Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve
He will have them recline at the table and he will come and wait on them.
Even knowing the gospel, even understanding that Christ’s mission was to serve, not be served; this passage was mind blowing. Jesus is saying this is what God is like.
This is how I picture it in my mind:
There are two servants, waiting at the door in fine servants clothes when the master arrives home from some fancy event. Just as they were trained, they greet him with deferential courtesy, take his coat and hat, and then his gloves. One servant stows them all away while the other follows the master toward his quarters, except he doesn’t take the stairs. He passes the stairs and heads for the kitchen.
The servant is a pro, so he tries to anticipate his master’s desires. He offers to call the chef, or bring the master’s favorite midnight snack, when the master turns toward the servant and his younger servant buddy that has now caught up to them.
“Listen, guys. I was just thinking; I know you’ve been standing over there since I left. And I didn’t plan on returning this late. You must be famished by now.”
They are confused. Of course they are hungry, but they’ll eat soon enough when the master retires for the evening. One of the servants – the older one, begins, “Please, sir…” but he is cut off by the master.
“I know where the cook keeps his apron,” says the master.
“He served the most succulent roast duck last night, and I’ve decided to take the leftovers and make each of you my favorite sandwich. There are at least two birds still untouched in the Sub-Zero, along with lettuce and pickles, fresh tomatoes from the garden and some of that amazing horseradish mustard he makes – I could cry it’s so good. And he always has a few boiled eggs around in case I need a quick breakfast.”
The servants resist at first, but the force of the master’s will, even in gentleness, quickly prevails.
“You two have been on your feet all night waiting on me, let me wait on you for a few minutes. I’ll take your jacket so you can recline. No? But please! Or at least kick your shoes off and take my seat here in the dining room. My house is your house after all. And you’re not going to believe this sandwich.”
The master is not drunk, and he is not crazy. In fact, he is the most sane person alive. He returns a moment later with two goblets and a bottle of a burly red that will perfectly complement the duck sandwich. After pouring the wine he disappears again for a few minutes and reappears with two plates. The sandwiches are gorgeous, and he’s garnished the plate with chips and some of the mango chutney that was served the night before, knowing it’s really at its best after settling for a day.
He sets the plates, ignores their bewildered gestures, clasps the younger servant on the shoulders, eyes the elder and says, “Enjoy.” And walking away he adds, “Don’t clean up.”
What kind of master is this?
I will spend the rest of my life wrestling with the answer, because it seems too good to be true. But the truth is, it’s too good not to be.
Luke 12:35-37
Be dressed, ready for service and keep your lamps burning,
Like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet,
So that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him.
It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes.
Truly I tell you,
He will dress himself to serve,
He will have them recline at the table
And will come and wait on them.
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Photo by Tim Briggs
- The Well-Hidden Wisdom of Children - February 3, 2020
- We Are God’s Masterpiece: A Brand New Slugs & Bugs (Sing The Bible) Song! - July 17, 2015
- Cellphone Jones: A New (Unreleased) Slugs & Bugs Song! - April 10, 2015
You blessed us deeply with your session at INKWELL and then my husband said to me after the evening concert: ” I wish our kids were little again.” Waiting on grandkids to come out of heaven with 3 of our 5 already married. Will pass on your music to the young moms I know too. I was so deeply touched as to your session on writing music and the gifts in the audiences.
Thanks for writing this Randy. It’s easy to write, but harder to live. Thanks for setting this example as you live out your life and vocation. It would be easy to understand if relatively famous folks like yourself and Andrew Peterson were bothered or annoyed by the waves of Slugs & Bugs-crazed-fans, but you take your time letting US feel important. That means a lot to “ordinary” folks like me. That’s an example, perhaps not too profound, of the type of God we serve, and for that I am grateful.
I love this. And Randy, your song using this verse was the first time I’d really heard it. It struck a deep, deep cord and is one of my favorites on the whole album.
Oh. Your story illustration made the verse come alive. I feel a little stunned. Will need to chew on this. Thank you, Randy.
These verses are my favorite song on the album. It’s one of those passages that can become worn like the face of an old coin. Your music re-stamped the coin and made its value apparent. Great post.
Seriously, how did I miss that?