Status Worth Seeking
“An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest” (Luke 9:46).
When guys get together, they love to talk - about themselves. Ashleigh Brilliant, who scribbled his offbeat humor on hippie postcards, once penned: “All I ask of life is a constant and exaggerated sense of my own importance.” Guys easily get afflicted with this exaggerated sense. They talk about the fish they caught and the one that got away, the deal they closed, the car they drive. It’s not so much competence as it is competition. I’m not great but I am greater.
When Christ’s disciples got together it was no different. Luke tells us they had a hard time understanding why Jesus, at the height of his popularity would be betrayed. In their minds he was face to face with triumph. In Christ’s mind he was staring at a cross. Jesus was trying to convey to his students that he was to take the lowest place (Luke 9:44). Their response was to get into a verbal fight over who would be the most famous (Luke 9:46). So sure were the disciples that Jesus would free them from the boot of Rome, the only worthy argument was what role each would play in Christ’s new Kingdom. Each one upped the other in importance. Are you consumed more with your own status or greatness than Christ’s? Have you laid your own agenda over Christ’s agenda for your life?
Well, Jesus who knew the disciples’ thoughts, chose not to argue greatness. Instead, he illustrated what it meant to be kingdom great. He placed a child in front of them. Children had absolutely no status in Jesus’ day. “Whoever welcomes this child in my name welcomes me;” Luke 9:48a). Do you have enough humility to take a child seriously for my sake? Jesus asks. Would you welcome this little kid like you would welcome me? Then you would welcome my Father and me, and then you have status worth seeking.
Jesus then adds, “For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest” (Luke 9:48b). It turns out greatness is about serving not self-promotion. The way up is down in meeting the needs of the lowly rather than grabbing for the top. Or looking to Jesus and his selfless love in serving us we too want to selflessly serve others in love. This is status worth seeking.
Oscar Levant was a friend of Ashleigh Brilliant’s. Levant once said, “What the world needs is more geniuses with humility, there are so few of us left.” Actually, we have plenty of those. Be different. Love a kid as you would Christ. Serve the lesser. Let his love compel you.
