Read today’s texts first: Matthew 20-22
Instead of exercising top-down management,
learn how to serve from the bottom up.
learn how to serve from the bottom up.
Jewish mothers always want their boys to be the best: a doctor, lawyer, businessman, right-hand man for King Jesus. While it’s funny how slow they all were in understanding how God’s Kingdom works, who can blame the “sons of thunder” and their adoring mother for their ambitions of power and prestige (20:20,21)?
In fact, that’s what makes Jesus’ answer so remarkable. God, who holds the most powerful position in the universe, should understand the authority that comes from a place of power. And yet Jesus left all of that behind to be born as a helpless baby into a working class family with zero social status. He worked with His hands alongside His dad in the family shop until He was 30. Nobody, except His parents, knew He was special. He didn’t attend the finest school, wear designer clothes, hire a press agent (other than John the Baptist, who smelled of locust breath!), acquire material possessions, marry into money, achieve worldly success, run for political office, or package His message for the media of the day.
I guess that’s because His message was “whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant” (20:26). Instead of “lording it over them” He chose to be the real Lord by placing Himself under them. Now it’s this kind of thinking that makes God’s Kingdom seem so upside-down. The truth is though, our world has twisted itself upside-down and Jesus is explaining how to turn it right-side up! Without status symbols, titles, promoters, or positions of power, Jesus still “taught as one who had authority” (9:29).
“Lord, I know that every position I’ve ever held has been given to me by You. I didn’t ask for them nor strive for them. I want those who follow me to follow You, and they will if I stay right behind You. The only authority I have is what You give me, so may I never abuse it. Instead of exercising top-down management, show me how to serve from the bottom up.”
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