ARE YOU GROWING?(17)

*WISDOM FOR TODAY.*

*ARE YOU GROWING? (17)*

*Scripture Treasure.*

Matt 20: 20-28

v20 *Then came to him the mother of Zebedees children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.*

v21  *And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.*

v22  *But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.*

v23  *And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.*

v24  *And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren.*

v25 *But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.*

v26 *But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;*

v27 *And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:*

v28 *Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.*

*Insight and Highlight.*

Christian growth, maturity and choosing greatness through being least than greatness in seniority.

*Scripture Commentaries.*

Perhaps the most undesired position for anyone is to be the least.

The wish of anyone is the top or be at the top.

It brings us again to the mindsets of power, recognition, promotion, fame etc.

These have become the most targeted, desired wish of anyone and the children of men are so obsessed with them.

Obsession with position has turned the world to a rat race and it has turned families, businessess, social associations etc as institutions of tragedy rather than peaceful coexistence.

This is because people can do anything to harm or destroy their fellows because of greatness.

It becomes almost impossible to see anyone who is not power, position, money, fame etc driven. Only a very few mature Christians would faithfully serve God when all these are not there.

Many immature Christians would do the unthinkable to achieve these positions.

Leaving social, businessess, politics alone, today's Church is not spared of people who kill for money, power, positions, etc.

Jesus told Salome, James, John and the other disciples, that to be first, one must be a servant.

Jesus stated, *"Whoever is least among you all is the one who is great".*

He taught that leadership in His kingdom is achieved through humility and service, not power.

This truth, if adopted by true and mature Christians, there will be no unhealthy rivalry in the Church.

Paul teaches unity in diversity.

We all have one goal: we are joined in Christ to serve Christ.

As much as we are Heaven bound and rely on Christ, we need each other and this makes us interdependent.

There is mutual care. We are called to serve each other though we have different responsibilities.

While each body member is distinct (like eyes or hands), each is equally vital and joined together in Christ.

He says in Rom 12:4....*For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:*

The usual mindset of immature Christian is that they must be served, respected and lead while they put others under subjection.

Christ teaches us that such so-called Christians do not belong to His Kingdom

They belong to the world,: the *"......Gentiles...."* who exercise dominion over people, and they that are of greater power over them do the same thing to them.

Christ says in Matt 20: 25 *"....Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.*

It is important to also know that age is not maturity and maturity is not age.

So Christ is teaching towards a leader-servant heart rather than a leader-servant age.

Jesus is talking about a spiritual age rather than a physical age.

Leadership may not be seniority.

Seniority may not be leadership.

Immature Christians lord over people.

Mature Christians lead to serve as they also serve to lead.

True greatness is service.

Are you a mature Christian?

Does your age match your growth and maturity?

Are you growing?

*Remorse corner.*

Greed for dominion leads to compulsive behaviours to lead persistently and at all cost. An excessive obsession to choose absoluteness over due consideration of others.

*Call to Word action.*

The quote "Absolute power corrupts absolutely" further explains Jesus' teaching that those who love power will abuse it, lose their morals and stop caring about others.

*The Christian clarion duty.*

Jesus is not saying leading is bad. He is saying that when leading is done independently of others' care, it becomes lording not leadership over people.

*Prayer.*

Lord, help me to lead people, not to lord over them in Jesus name.

Good morning all and be blessed as you come into His presence today.

God bless you.

Shalom.