Who's First?

With the Summer Olympics about to get under way, I got to thinking about what it takes to be first, to be the best, to be at the head of the line with perfection. All the participating athletes have practically devoted their entire young lives to be first in their part of the world, earning them the right to compete with others of the same caliber in a collective world engagement. I think we’re all born with a competitive nature and we all want to be first in whatever we do. Most of the human race is not of the athletic persuasion, but it seems we choose what we’ll compete in each and every day. Sometimes what we compete in isn’t always to the liking of the competitive nature of others. For example, someone with a controlling personality, someone like myself, has a tendency to overpower conversations and situations as if in a competition, rather than just allowing ones self to simply be a participant in the activity. I’m happy to say I’ve worked very hard at controlling myself, rather than others, but I still have a way to go. Maybe you’re competing for first chair at your place of employment. That can get rather messy at times. Do you have to be first with “information” about others? That’s called gossip, ya know. I hope you get the idea I’m trying to portray to you. We don’t always have to be first in everything we do, and relationships fail when we try. Think about this. Second place might be the first loser, but the optimist still sees himself as being first.
A little boy in worship for the first time watched as the ushers passed around the offering plates. When they came near the pew he was sitting in, the boy said with a loud command, “Don’t pay for me daddy, I’m under five!”
Another little boy was attending his first wedding. After the service, his younger cousin asked him, “How many women can a man marry?” “Sixteen”, the boy responded. His cousin was amazed that he had an answer so quickly. “How do you know that?” he asked. “Easy”, the little boy said. “All you have to do is add it up. Like the preacher said, four better, four worse, four richer and four poorer.”
[Mark 9: 33-35] They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.” Now there’s a tough one to swallow. No competition among the followers of Christ? Jesus said, “...just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28) In total obedience to the will of his father, Jesus shed his sinless blood, gave his life, a ransom for the sins of the world. And because of his obedient sinless life, God the Father raised Jesus from the dead. ...But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep ...so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. (1 Corinthians 15:20-23) My competitive side may not always show it, but Jesus is first in my life. I want to be a servant, the last to be served. Jesus was witnessed resurrected from the dead and ascending into heaven. He had no competition. This is one time none of us should be ashamed to be second, because when Jesus returns, those found serving will be first.