If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all. Mark 9:35
Who are people who are usually thought to be first? You might say the richest or the ones with the most powerful jobs, or the ones who are famous or who star in movies and television shows.
Who are people who would be thought of as last? Maybe you would say people who are poor or homeless, or people who are meek and shy.
Jesus lets his disciples know that those who want to be first will be last of all. This is a way of saying it doesn’t matter how rich or famous you may be in the kingdom of God. If being rich and famous is most important to you, then you will be last in the kingdom of God because you do not put God first.
It is those who are poor in the things of this world who are put first in the kingdom of God because God looks out for the poor and lowly and cares about those who are humble the most. God chose a stutterer named Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. God chose the little shepherd boy David to be king. God chose Mary, a simple young girl, to be the mother of Jesus. All over Scripture, God chose the last person you would expect to be the first person he picked.
What does this mean for you and me? It means that we should not seek to be first in the things of this earth. We should not run to be first in line or the first person to get served. We should be humble and let others go before us. Whenever we put ourselves last, we are putting ourselves first with God, because he loves those who put others above themselves.
So put yourself last on this earth that you might be first in the eyes of God. You will be blessed.
