“Giving preference to one another.” Romans 12:10 NKJV
“Selflessness and sacrifice expressed in service are the only real means to greatness.”
My thoughts today ask, “Who wants to be first?”
I think the answer to my question might be “everybody!” In the New Testament Church, there was a man named Diotrophes, “who loves to be first.” 3 John 9 NIV. Diotrophes is still around. Early in life you learn that it’s good to be first. Whoever comes after that is for everyone else to sort out.
Growing up the smallest boy in my classes, I felt the sting of being the last one chosen in every playground team or PE class. I dreamed of being first, and if not first at least not last. When you think about it, many people’s lives are all about jockeying for position and advantage – with the result of too much time and thought being misdirected and too much money spent to convince someone else that you really are first and deserve to be.
A person may use wealth, titles, educational degrees, houses, cars, possessions, friendships, business connections, or just being identified with the right crowd in order to be seen as having position and importance somehow superior to others. People accumulate things they hope others will see as indication of rank. Competitive? You bet we are! Being the best, having the most, being the prettiest or more handsome, or having the show-stopping talent is often the scorecard of choice for the games people play.
Yes, that’s the way the world seems to work. That is not how the Kingdom of God works. Jesus taught, “the first shall be last, and the last shall be first . . many who seem to be important now will be less important then, and those who are considered least here will be the greatest then.” See Matthew 19:30 NIV/NLT. The Bible turns the entire world system upside down, exposing its ego-driven pretense and pride. Often people are like the Pharisees, preferring to see and be seen, loving the spotlight and applause. Read Matthew 6:1-6 NIV.
Even Jesus’ own disciples were caught up in the comparisons and competition of who would be “greatest in the Kingdom.” Luke 9:46-48/22:24-27 NKJV. Each of them wanted to be first, and everybody cannot be first. To Jesus, it was this simple. Greatness comes from serving. The more people you serve and the better you serve them is the only way greatness is measured in God’s system of value and importance. Selflessness and sacrifice are the means to greatness in God’s eyes. That currency does not work so well in the world’s economy, but will make you rich in Kingdom importance.
How could serving others look like? Consider these ways: counting others as valued and important, choosing to care about others in practical ways, taking time to notice and listen to another’s heart, valuing other people and their opinions, making allowance for others’ mistakes, deferring judgment of motives and intent, sharing what you have been given to meet another’s needs, or being kind in your words and manner.
Maybe the simplest answer is to first put yourself in another’s place and treat them as you would want to be treated by them. I think that’s called the Golden Rule, and it comes directly from Jesus’ words. Also read Philippians 2:3-4 NLT.
My prayer for you today is: live with the attitude of graciousness and generosity.