I read from Matthew 19 and 20 this morning and once again came face to face with the theme we find throughout the New Testament and especially in the teachings of Jesus: the first will be last and the last will be first. He puts wealth, possessions and priorities into perspective in Matt. 19:29-30, where He says:
“And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
He’s giving us an eternal, Kingdom perspective here. The gospel and the Kingdom of God should come first - everything else should come second. The context in 19:16-22 is the rich young man’s perplexity at giving up his possessions to give to the poor. This quandry, and Christ’s following statements should serve to remind us that in God’s economy, the temporal is simply a means to the eternal. But we get it turned around and upside down. In vv.29-30, Christ says that not only riches, but even family should come second to the kingdom. That one’s a hard one to swallow at times - especially because family IS so important. But, Christ’s point is that it should never come at the expense of God’s Kingdom.
Jesus’ interaction with the mother of James and John in vv.20-28 provides such a convicting perspective on life. She’s trying to be a good mom and look out for her boys in asking Jesus who will have the places of position in His kingdom. Again, Jesus turns the perspective upside down in outlining the Kingdom’s perspective regarding position and authority:
“but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”
Matthew 20:26-28
Be first, we must be a servant. To have the place of position, we must be as a slave. Oh, to live like this! Lord Jesus, may you give me your mind, your heart, your perspective. May I live by Your example of a humble servant who gave His life. Help me be a servant for Your glory.
