Who are you promoting?

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

In the world we live in, we get ahead by promoting ourselves. It sometimes seems like if we don’t tell others about the great things we have done, no one will notice. It is also our culture to try to work our way to the top. We want to be in charge and pursuing the very best that life has to offer. We know we are doing well when others respect us; when we feel superior to others. The disciples had a similar thought process. Time and time again they argued over which one of them was the greatest. Jesus’ answer was simple: “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” He didn’t say that in order to be first we should work our way to the top or brag about what we did so all the world would know. In fact, in Mark 10 Jesus explained that the people of the world took their power and lorded it over people. They didn’t want you to forget who they were and how powerful they were. But He told His disciples that this should not be the way with them. He said that whoever wanted to be great in the kingdom of God should become a servant, just as Jesus came not to be served, but to serve and give His life for many.

It is so easy in life to want others to recognize the things that we have done. Or just to want to share with others how happy we are to have accomplished something. But at a certain point it becomes bragging and self-promotion. God says this is wrong. He doesn't want us to become great in the eyes of the world, He want's us to become great in the eyes of God. To do that, we must not follow the ways of the world. We shouldn't promote ourselves and all the great things we do, but humble ourselves and serve and encourage others.

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