“If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.”

                                                                                                   Mark 9:35b 

God’s way always runs contrary to the world. Today’s passage teaches us three very important lessons about the way God does things versus how the world functions. 

First, we are told that in order to be first in the kingdom of God, we must become last. I believe that this is a significant portion, if not the whole, of what Jesus meant when He said that we must “deny ourselves.” It is not a part of our natural bent to put others before ourselves. But Christians are instructed to do just that (Philippians 2:3-4). If you want to be first in the kingdom of God, you must be last of all and make yourself the servant of all.

We live in a world that preaches an entirely different message. Significance in this life is often defined by the amount of material possessions, power, or fame that one can possess. We are often told that we must be the fastest, strongest, smartest, and wealthiest in order for this life to be labeled a “success.” Because of this, many will stress themselves out trying to “get ahead.” Scripture teaches us the very opposite. Consider the following:

For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God.

                                                                                                     1 Corinthians 1:26-29 

The gospel is not received through sheer effort, intelligence, one’s social class, or economic position. God has purposely chosen to work through those whom the world would view as worthless. What is foolishness to the world is, in reality, the very wisdom and power of God (1 Corinthians 1:18). When we are in our weakest state, we receive and enjoy the very presence and strength of God (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). God chooses the base things of the world to demonstrate His power. Base things can be described as things that are morally low, of little to no value, and inferior. The word used in this passage is referring to those who are not of noble birth or of a certain pedigree. Born again believers in Jesus live with the understanding that they are not worthy of any consideration yet enjoy the status of being redeemed, accepted by God, and declared heirs to His kingdom. This is something that the world cannot understand, operating under the assumption that one’s social, economic, or political status places them in a superior position. God’s wisdom cuts the very legs out from under this philosophy.

Secondly, God loves children. Consider the following:

Taking a child, He set him before them, and taking him in His arms, He said to them, “Whoever receives one child like this in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me does not receive Me, but Him who sent Me.”

                                                                                                                   Mark 9:36-37 

So often, children are robbed of their childhood by being placed in situations that they are not emotionally able to process. This is usually as a result of the irresponsible actions of the adults in the child’s life. But this is not what God intends for children. Do you remember your childhood? If you had a great childhood as I did, you may remember playing with friends, not having a care in the world, oblivious to the issues of adulthood. As children, we didn’t carry the “weight of the world” on our shoulders. Jesus tells us that receiving a child in His name is the same as receiving Jesus Himself and that receiving Jesus is the same as receiving God the Father. This statement demonstrates to me the importance that children play in the heart of God.

In a parallel passage, we are told the entrance into the kingdom of God requires that we humble ourselves and become like children. Consider the following:

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and said, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And He called a child to Himself and set him before them, and said, “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

                                                                                                               Matthew 18:1-3 

True conversion comes from humbling ourselves before God, admitting our need for salvation, and then living out our lives in total dependence of God, much like, as children, we lived in total dependence of our earthly parents. God doesn’t want us to fret, be stressed out, or overly concerned about the things of this life (Matthew 6:25-33). But the reality is that children grow up and become adults. What so often happens is that as we get older, we begin to listen to the world and it’s philosophy rather than remaining in the truth of God’s word. This abandonment of truth brings with it the grief’s that come from living for worldly rather than spiritual things. We are not called to be childish rather we are instructed to be childlike in our hearts, in our attitudes, and in our treatment of others. This is God’s way!

Finally, although we often feel like we need to perform sizable deeds, we are told that the smallest of generous actions, done to others, do not go unnoticed by God. Consider the following:

For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of your name as followers of Christ, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward.

                                                                                                                 Mark 9:41 

Remember the actions of Rahab? She was a prostitute and resident of the city of Jericho (Joshua 2). God sent men to spy out the land on behalf of Israel. As Rahab’s fellow countrymen were pursuing these men, she was faced with an opportunity to assist the spies and she hid them so that they would not be captured. As Jericho was destroyed, Rahab was protected. Because of her actions, she is also listed, in scripture, as one of the faithful (Hebrews 11:31). Scripture teaches us that our faith has to be more than words rather it is to be lived out through our actions. Consider the following:

Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.

                                                                                                            1 John 3:18

So in order to be first in the kingdom, we must make ourselves last and the servant of all. We must humble ourselves and be converted, fully depending on God in every aspect of our lives. And we must be ready to exercise our faith by loving others, especially those who are a part of the kingdom. This is truly God’s way!