Healthy donkey mentality
I got the term “healthy donkey mentality” from a devotional book I read recently in which the writer said, “If we could develop a healthy donkey mentality, what an asset that would be as we travel the road of life!”
For example, he said, instead of wondering what people think about us, or instead of projecting ourselves for people to see us, our concern would be to project Christ, so that people would see him as the King.
Like the Baptist
His statement reminds us of the testimony of John the Baptist when people asked him if he was the Christ.
His response was like: “Who?
Me? Certainly not! I’m not even worthy to untie his sandals! He must increase while I decrease.”
John’s testimony was a healthy donkey mentality.
It shows that despite being a prophet, he recognised how unworthy and inferior he was in comparison to Christ’s divine power.
Prolific author Max Lucado says in one of his books, “It’s not about me.”
No, it’s not about us, no matter our achievements in the Lord’s ministry; it’s all about Christ.”
We come across this donkey with a healthy mentality in the Gospels.
Her initial complaint must have been: “Here I am, tied to this tree for hours, day after day, doing nothing and being mocked at by my donkey friends.
How I wish I were untied to go about my donkey chores.”
“What a waste of time and ability!” the donkey moaned.
“How I wish I had a new owner who would see my worth and make proper use of me instead of being imprisoned under this tree!”
Analogy
The donkey is only an analogy to represent us. A long time before we were made useful by training or by expertise, we had little to contribute to life.
Then the Lord found us tied to the tree of unfruitfulness, endowed us with talents and abilities, and called us to serve him.
Like donkeys that suffer abuses from their human masters, some of us suffered in the wilderness while seeking a place where we would be useful.
Now it was time for the Messiah to enter triumphantly into Jerusalem to begin a series of events that would eventually lead to his crucifixion, death, and resurrection; to give his life to save the world from sin.
Such a noble task to be undertaken by the Messiah called for one of those huge horses imported from Egypt or Syria for ceremonial purposes. But, no, the Messiah decided he would rather ride on a donkey or on a donkey’s colt in fulfilment of scripture.
And, of all the many donkeys around, Jesus chose the village donkey that was tied to a tree—just like he chooses us of all people to be the ones to serve him in a particular place or situation.
None of us deserves to be chosen for any service.
It is therefore a privilege to serve God in whatever capacity he calls us.
Knowing this will give us a healthy donkey mentality.
And when the village donkey was chosen, can you imagine the joy that came to her? “Freedom at last,” she must have said as she bade farewell to the rope and to the idling master.
“I’m on my way to serve the Messiah.”
Testing the donkey
The test for the donkey came when the Messiah sat on it.
The Gospels say, “A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.”
So, as the donkey walked on people’s cloaks on the road for the first time in her life and heard the shouts of praise, how did she feel and how did she respond?
“Wow! Look at me, walking on people’s clothes and receiving all these praises and honours!
Let the other donkeys come and see me!
Let those who used to disrespect me notice me now.
Dignity be what! Honour be what!”
Surely, the donkey wouldn’t think the praises were meant for her—the way some of us think when we are elevated.
Soon, we forget where we came from, how unworthy we were before God called us into his service.
Those who are down fear no fall, but those who are high can fall.
And the Scripture says, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."
Imagine how wrong the donkey would be if she thought the praises were meant for her!
The crowd hailed the Christ, not the donkey. It was “Hosanna to the Son of David!” not
“Hosanna to the donkey!”
Similarly, when we receive praise and recognition as our ministries grow and attract more people and recognition, we must be careful to maintain a healthy donkey mentality.
It is all about the Lord, not about us.
