16 Feb 06 114010321790811502
Some thoughts from our mid-week tune-up last night.
Jesus and his followers went to Capernaum. When they went into a house there, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” But the followers did not answer, because their argument on the road was about which one of them was the greatest. Jesus sat down and called the twelve apostles to him. He said, “Whoever wants to be the most important must be last of all and servant of all.” Then Jesus took a small child and had him stand among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said, “Whoever accepts a child like this in my name accepts me. And whoever accepts me accepts the One who sent me.‚Äù (Mark 9:33-37 NCV)
Get any group of people together and invariably the jockeying begins for position. Much effort and energy is expended to sort out and establish a pecking order.
Richard Foster makes the following observation:
Whenever there is trouble over who is the greatest there is trouble over who is the least. Most of us know we will never be the greatest; just don’t let us be the least.
Why is it that most of us fear being the least?
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As you know, I love my “Survivor.” Every season they have one episode where they pick teams. It is excruciating. You not only ache for those who haven’t been picked yet, but it sends many of us back to our schooldays when we were judged by our size as opposed to our relative athletic ability. Translation: I know what it’s like to be picked last.
It’s all about self-worth. As we grow and mature we learn that we can’t base our self-esteem on what others think about us. But as children…and as immature Christians…it’s a very easy trap to fall into.
You’re number one in my book, buddy.
This teaching, perhaps more than any other, demonstrates how God’s calculations, rankings, estimations, values, and priorities are different from those in our finite, underutilized, untrusting, sullied-by-selfishness minds.
upasoko–John Lennon’s first wife
We do what we do to please the one we see as the most important. To receive esteem from the other means I am important in his/her eyes. To desire her/his esteem means that s/he is important, not in him/herself, but in relation to me.
We all seek affirmation. To be least means we aren’t as important as the average bear. I’m presently reading Joyce Meyer’s “Approval Addiction.” There are thoughts contained therein that are opening up a whole new world for me………….
You’re right about the pecking order … and all I want in life is to be the first blog read each morning within this blog family. Is that asking too much????
The Little League version would read, “Jesus asked the parents/coaches, “Why are you arguing over who is going to pitch or play short?” Then Jesus grabbed the right-fielder and said, “Unless you’re willing to put your son in right-field, you can’t play on my team.”
Or to take it one step further Cecil, “Are you willing to not allow your son to start it that is for the good of the team?” Or even greater is, “Are you willing for me to not allow your son to play in order to better the team?” Some of the greatest kids I have ever had play for me are the ones who ride the bench more than others, but still cheer the other guys on and encourage the team.
That’s a pertinent question that I have no ready answer to. Perhaps it’s also why Jesus’ injunction is instructive.
” The first shall be the last and the last shall be the first” It’s both reasurring and counterintuitive.