Choose to Be Last

Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” – Mark 9:35

Everyone wants to be first. “We’re number one!” is the cheer of champions. In our society we strive to be the winner. However in contrast to our society come the words of Jesus, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last.” These are difficult words for us to understand and follow, just as they were for Jesus’ disciples.

Recently, I read a story about a woman and her two young sons who were suddenly stranded in their car by a flash flood in Australia. When a rescuer finally arrived he could only save one person at a time. Although he was deathly afraid of water and could not swim, Jordan, a thirteen year old boy, asked the rescuer to take his younger brother first. By the time the rescuer returned to the car Jordan and his mother had been swept away by the flood waters. Jordan could have chosen to be first, but instead he chose to be last and with that decision he laid down his life to save his brother. In his unselfish decision, Jordan shows us how Christ wants us to live as Christians; not choosing to be first, but choosing to be last so that others might be saved.

Prayer: Thank you Jesus that you chose to come not as a champion, but as a servant. Help me to become more servant like in my life and lay aside my selfish ambitions and desires to serve others. Amen

Faith Tip: Today do something specific that helps put someone else in first place. Let someone go first through a door, a check-out lane, or an intersection…Give credit to someone who deserves it…Put aside your selfish desires and do something that someone else wants to do. The ideas are endless.

Written by Pastor Aaron Anderson