The Servant of All

They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.” (Mark 9:33–35, NIV 1984).

My Musings – I remember as an adolescent playing baseball in the neighborhood or softball in gym class and choosing sides. It was a great honor to be picked first and an embarrassment to be picked last. Being picked first meant your skills were considered greater than all the others. And being picked last meant what? Well, you get to play, but your skills were considered less than all the rest.

Then along comes Jesus and turns all this upside down from a Kingdom perspective. The last in the Kingdom is “paid” the same as the first. So, literally, “the last will be first, and the first will be last.” (Matthew 20:16, NIV 1984). In God’s reckoning, faithfulness is the true measure of greatness, not talent, skills or giftedness.

My Advice – As God instructed Samuel, “do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7, NIV 1984). So, let’s not strive to be great or first, rather let us strive to be faithful.

Author: thebrewisamusing

I was raised in a Christian family and my earliest childhood memories include regular Sunday school and Church attendance as a family. I was taught that our Judeo-Christian values were not just a part of our Sunday routine they should be part of our character and influence all aspects of our lives. I was also taught that as important as these values were they could not save us. We must also be “born again” by accepting Christ. View all posts by thebrewisamusing