Criterion

“But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave” Matt.20:26-27 [emphasis added].

The fifth thing that the early church was big on is Service. Jesus, the Son of the Living God that instituted the Church was Himself an epitome of service. Please read Matthew 20:20-28. James and John the sons of Zebedee, thought to themselves that even though Jesus has twelve disciples there must be a number one and number two. So they sought the help of their mother who went to Jesus and knelt respectfully to ask for favor. Mothers are amazing! These boys were not looking for cheap positions. They were willing to pay the price and Jesus knew that or he would have called them lairs like He did to some others. However, in Matthew 20:26-27, Jesus gives us the secret of who will sit on His right and on His left. Jesus is saying this is the criterion of leadership in the Kingdom, this is the criterion of honor, of relevance, and this is what will determine who sits where. The person that wants to be the leader must be the servant.

Jesus in this passage of scriptures [Matt.20:20-28] released the two keys of significance in the Kingdom of God. Do not miss this. And the two keys for significance in the Kingdom of God are Sacrifice and Service. The first thing Jesus put before them is can you pay the price that is required? And they said they could. Jesus looked at them and said yes you will, I know you are not lying. However, even after you have given the sacrifice you must still stoop. The willingness to sacrifice for God is the beginning of significance in the Kingdom of God. Sacrifice is the starting point so when you have people that are unwilling to sacrifice they have not even started. Then Jesus raises the bar even higher, He goes beyond that so say after you have sacrificed you must be willing to take the back seat and serve. Isn’t that just counter intuitive? After you have sacrificed and done all, shouldn’t you take a prestigious seat? Jesus is saying after you have sacrificed then you must be willing to take the back seat. These are the two keys of significance in the Kingdom of heaven. Can you see how this runs contrary to the systems of the world? Imagine you sacrificed to build an organization, I mean you have given your all to that organization. Jesus is saying after you have given everything, go and take the broom and sweep like a cleaner. How does that add up? You should be rewarded and promoted to senior manager or chief executive officer. That is how the system of the world works. The Kingdom of God is the opposite.

Prayer: Father, I pray that that which is most important to You will be priority to me, in Jesus Name.