Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 26-28; John 17
“But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant” – Matthew 23:11 (KJV)
In the Kingdom of God, stewardship is the pathway to greatness. The more we are committed to serving God and the interest of His kingdom, the more God bless and rewards us with abundant and great blessings .
Jesus was speaking against the Pharisees and the teachers of the law. Even though they knew the law very well, they did not practice it, nor did they show any love or care for the people. They focused on themselves and tried to show how great they were. Jesus then tells the people that the one who would be greatest would be their servant. The more proud we are, the harder it is to serve, because we will not want others to see our weakness. It takes humility to serve God acceptably.
In the world today, greatness is a state of being great in size, skills, achievement, or power. In order to be great, people are often expected to be the best at something. They are to stand above the average person to be considered the greatest. But it is not the same in the kingdom of God.
Jesus is considered by many to be the greatest teacher or prophet that ever lived. He did not live in a way at trying to be the best. He lived as a servant. Jesus had the goal of serving God; therefore serving people everywhere he went during his days on earth. God demands humility from His people, not pride. He is our model, and His humble way is the only path to exaltation in God’s Kingdom. Jesus speaking in Matthew 5:19-20 (KJV) says, “Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.”
As a believer, we are to be like Jesus, serving others by teaching and showing love to them in every little ways we can in knowing God’s way. Showing love to others also means you will lift them up and help them no matter the status of life or height in a social order you have attained. Life is not always about us. There will always be opportunities for lifting’s in serving God’s interest in the life of others as long as we are in God’s service.
Prayer: Father, help us to serve you and the interest of your kingdom with lowliness of mind in Jesus Name.
Pastor Alfred Samuel