Is our world backwards? Or is God and the bible backwards?
Bible-Greatness comes through servant-hood, and leadership through becoming a slave to all.
Matthew 23:11-12 “The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
Mark 10:42-45 “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
In today’s world, people care about money, possessions, titles, ranks, authority, and prestige. We view a successful person as someone who has a lot of money or a lot of stuff. We view a servant as someone less than us or others. But is this true in the bible?
In Mark chapter 10 a rich young man asks Jesus what he must to do to inherit eternal life. Jesus said you know the commandments and the young man replied he has kept them all since he was a boy. But Jesus said there was one thing he lacked-“Go sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
“At this time the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, ‘How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!’”
Mark 10:31 “But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
This man’s attachment to his possessions kept him from God. Is there anything keeping you from God? Is there anything you aren’t willing to give up? What has hardened your heart toward God?
This idea that to be great you must become a servant or slave is crazy, isn’t it? Or maybe not…….?
What if we ALL had this mentality? What if we stopped thinking about ourselves and thought of other’s more? What if we stopped supplying our wants and started supplying other’s needs? What if everyone’s basic needs were met? Would there be war and conflict? If CEO’s weren’t out to get as much money as possible would jobs be safe? What if we were content? Would we give more? What if we had the mentality of “ours” instead of “mine?” What is the point of life? Why are we here? To have all our wants met? To see who can live the best life and die with the most money? What will we take with us when we die? Nothing so why are we trying so hard to obtain so much?
Our world is sooooo competitive but why? Who cares who has the nicer car! Does it get you from point A to point B? Do you need more than that? Why can’t we celebrate with someone who just got a promoted instead of coming up with reasons why she’ll fail? Who cares if Suzie bought Wal-Mart jeans instead of CK jeans? Does that change who she is on the inside? Why are we so superficial and petty and judgmental? To make ourselves feel better? Are we that insecure? We waste so much time when we care too much about what other people think.
Philippians 2:6-8 “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!”
Are you interested in becoming a servant or slave to others? Do you see the value? Or does this idea just seem crazy to you?
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