All of us naturally want to be associated with winners. That is the reason why, as we live in the world, from childhood, we want to be sitting next to the best student in the class, we want to walk with people who are images of the greatest, strongest, the prettiest… in other words champions! My brother, my sister, don’t you want to be associated with a winner? Our societies have made the images of winners linked to their hard work, their good fortune or their great abilities while the losers are always seen as those who finish less than first. Today, look at most TV programmes to understand this: it is all about contests, competitions to become number one. That is the reason why, even some believers are lost, thinking that they have to always be first to have the feeling of achieving something. Yet, the Bible says: “and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all” (verse 44).
My friend, do you know what a slave is? It is someone who serves others at any time, at any time of his/herlife, never complains or gives his/her opinion! The Bible could have said, that person is a servant of all… No … it is “slave of all!” What does this tell us? That to get to this point, we must first get to the level of obedience and submission to God and to men in authority over us and not only! Yes, my friend, to be the first before God, we have to become slaves to everyone who come along our way.
Jesus is the greatest, God made man, our Messiah, but He came into the world as a servant! We, Christians, should therefore avoid measuring success or someone’s winner status on what we see: the world measures success and greatness depending on personal achievement, but in but in Christ’s Kingdom, serving the others is the way to get ahead. Yes, know today that if you always desire to come in the first place, that hinder you rather than help you in everything that is related with God. Also, instead of ensuring that your needs are met, seek all possible means to minister to the needs of others. That is following Jesus: Jesus did not seek to be friend with the rich people of Jerusalem where they could serve Him caviar on the table every day or He could have slepts in air-conditioned rooms. He was going to the poor, those who where cast away, the hungry, in the suburbs, etc … “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” (verse 45). Stay blessed in Jesus’ name.