Ecclesiastes 1-3
2 Corinthians 11:16-33
“…whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:26-28
The mother of James and John went up to Jesus and laid before Him a bold request: “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at Your right and the other at Your left in Your kingdom” (Matthew 20:21). This was not a bad request from a mother. It is a prayer that many parents would have for their children: that they would achieve greatness. Jesus responded, “You don’t know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” The boys answered without hesitation, “We can” (Matthew 20:22).
It is exciting for young people to have such passion, energy and willingness to take risks for the sake of the kingdom. However, when our confidence is misplaced or misdirected, the peak of our mountain will determine the depth of the valley that we will need to go through in order to learn humility.
James and John were brimming with confidence, saying they could drink from Jesus’s cup and so, Jesus affirmed their declaration: “You will indeed drink from My cup, but to sit at My right or left is not for Me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by My Father” (Matthew 20:23). The cup of Jesus was a cup of suffering in this world. When we study what happens later in the life of James and John, we find that they did face persecution and adversity. James was one of the first apostles martyred by Herod, and John was exiled to the Island of Patmos. They drank from Jesus’s cup but did not necessarily get what they wanted in the end. This begs some questions: What were they really seeking? Were they seeking Jesus to be near Him or were they seeking power, popularity and position? What was their real motivation?
Matthew tells us, “When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. Jesus called them together and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.’” James and John wanted to rule, wanted the authority over others and the glory, but Jesus reminded them, “…whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many’” (Matthew 20:24-28).
According to Jesus, greatness is not found in power, popularity or position, but in serving. As Billy Graham once said, “The highest form of worship is the worship of unselfish Christian service.”
Gracious Lord Jesus, humble my heart and keep me from slipping into the leadership paradigms of the world, seeking power, popularity and position. Wherever You have placed me, I want to serve people with my whole heart. Amen!
2 Corinthians 11:16-33
“…whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:26-28
The mother of James and John went up to Jesus and laid before Him a bold request: “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at Your right and the other at Your left in Your kingdom” (Matthew 20:21). This was not a bad request from a mother. It is a prayer that many parents would have for their children: that they would achieve greatness. Jesus responded, “You don’t know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” The boys answered without hesitation, “We can” (Matthew 20:22).
It is exciting for young people to have such passion, energy and willingness to take risks for the sake of the kingdom. However, when our confidence is misplaced or misdirected, the peak of our mountain will determine the depth of the valley that we will need to go through in order to learn humility.
James and John were brimming with confidence, saying they could drink from Jesus’s cup and so, Jesus affirmed their declaration: “You will indeed drink from My cup, but to sit at My right or left is not for Me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by My Father” (Matthew 20:23). The cup of Jesus was a cup of suffering in this world. When we study what happens later in the life of James and John, we find that they did face persecution and adversity. James was one of the first apostles martyred by Herod, and John was exiled to the Island of Patmos. They drank from Jesus’s cup but did not necessarily get what they wanted in the end. This begs some questions: What were they really seeking? Were they seeking Jesus to be near Him or were they seeking power, popularity and position? What was their real motivation?
Matthew tells us, “When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. Jesus called them together and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.’” James and John wanted to rule, wanted the authority over others and the glory, but Jesus reminded them, “…whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many’” (Matthew 20:24-28).
According to Jesus, greatness is not found in power, popularity or position, but in serving. As Billy Graham once said, “The highest form of worship is the worship of unselfish Christian service.”
Gracious Lord Jesus, humble my heart and keep me from slipping into the leadership paradigms of the world, seeking power, popularity and position. Wherever You have placed me, I want to serve people with my whole heart. Amen!
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