First Things Last

They came to Capernaum. When he was safe at home, he asked them, "What were you discussing on the road?"The silence was deafening—they had been arguing with one another over who among them was greatest. He sat down and summoned the Twelve. "So you want first place? Then take the last place. Be the servant of all." Mark 9:33-35

As Jesus' ministry became more and more popular, the crowds grew and so did Jesus' power and influence. As the disciples began to realize their teacher was powerful they began to argue amongst themselves who might be Jesus' successor. They were focused on individual power and completely missed Jesus' message of humble service.

It is a natural human tendency in the face of opportunities for power and influence to look after one's own self-interest. Our culture defines success as "getting ahead" or excelling over the competition. We can easily become obssessed with success and fail to see that others suffer for the sake of our prosperity.

The way of Jesus however is the way of service and humility. With power we are to serve, with resources we are to share, with influence we are to include. The way of Jesus means putting others before ourselves and loving with the indiscriminate unconditional love of God.

How are you "first" in life and how can you share your power and influence to be God's hands and feet?