[11] He who is greatest among you shall be your servant;
[12] whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. Matt 23:11-12 RSV
What sorts of people do you enjoy being around? What sorts of people do you speak well of? Who are the ones you call great?
I suppose when we are young, we get some wrong ideas that don’t change until we grow older, after we’ve had the opportunity to experience a lot of different things. Perhaps we came to think of great people as ones who have risen high in the world. Perhaps people of great rank impressed us. Perhaps people in positions of authority impressed us.
At some point in life, though, we have reason to associate with these people. Perhaps we find we need for them to carry out their responsibilities on our behalf. It is then when we discover what sort of people they really are.
Some of them are of great integrity. Some accept their responsibilities and carry them out admirably. Some are humble, loving, caring people. Some are true servants of the Lord.
And some are not. Some are nothing but trouble. Some have reached their exalted positions, not to serve, but only to enjoy the prestige of their position.
In the end, the great ones aren’t the ones who have achieved the highest rank. The great ones are the ones who’ve earned our respect through humble service. We can all do that – humbly serve – and be among the great ones. We don’t need to affix ourselves to an exalted title. We just need to serve humbly.
Prayer
Lord, may we always remember to love our neighbors as ourselves. Amen.
[12] whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. Matt 23:11-12 RSV
What sorts of people do you enjoy being around? What sorts of people do you speak well of? Who are the ones you call great?
I suppose when we are young, we get some wrong ideas that don’t change until we grow older, after we’ve had the opportunity to experience a lot of different things. Perhaps we came to think of great people as ones who have risen high in the world. Perhaps people of great rank impressed us. Perhaps people in positions of authority impressed us.
At some point in life, though, we have reason to associate with these people. Perhaps we find we need for them to carry out their responsibilities on our behalf. It is then when we discover what sort of people they really are.
Some of them are of great integrity. Some accept their responsibilities and carry them out admirably. Some are humble, loving, caring people. Some are true servants of the Lord.
And some are not. Some are nothing but trouble. Some have reached their exalted positions, not to serve, but only to enjoy the prestige of their position.
In the end, the great ones aren’t the ones who have achieved the highest rank. The great ones are the ones who’ve earned our respect through humble service. We can all do that – humbly serve – and be among the great ones. We don’t need to affix ourselves to an exalted title. We just need to serve humbly.
Prayer
Lord, may we always remember to love our neighbors as ourselves. Amen.
