"If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all." (v 35)
Our culture is built around being first. First with our grades in school. First in our capacity to earn money. First in our ability to have the biggest house/car/symbol of success. Winner are grinners. In the immortal words of Ricky-Bobby, 'if you're not first, you're last.'
Our win at all costs attitude was not foreign to Jesus' day, or even to his disciples. Embarrassed, they are caught out in a rather demeaning conversation as to who would be/was the greatest. Jesus radically reverses the order of things for them and for us. Greatness is not measured by success; it is measured by servant-hood. And for servant-hood we have the ultimate example in the way Jesus both lived and died.
The church has been polluted by the 'health and wealth' approach to faith. It is a load of crap - heresy that sounds great but is built on a pack of lies foreign to the Way of Christ.
God, help me to take up my cross and follow you - not just once, but daily. May my life be defined by servant-hood rather than success.
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