If you’re not first you’re last

In a movie they once claimed if you're not first you're last, not exactly the truest statement.

The kid in the movie based his life off this line from his distant father.

Once he came across the distant father later on in life and told him how he lived his life based on this.

The father responded along the lines of why would you do that, second third, fourth or fifth is even just as good.

The guy was now frustrated because he lived his whole life based on that thinking.

When we live our whole life based on unrealistic expectations, we will never be happy with what we got.

There is no way to always take first.

Have you ever met someone that had to win at all cost?

I am pretty laid back when I play sports almost to a fault.

I never had that killer instinct when playing.

I have played with plenty of people like this though.

I remember playing hockey with one guy that thought he had to win.

He lead the league in scoring by a long shot because he was a good player, but nobody wanted to play with him.

He was cool before and after the game but nobody could stand to play with him.

Sometimes in order to be first, you have to burn bridges.

This is where faith and Jesus are completely different.

The people that were always around Jesus, the disciples got in an argument.

This argument was over who was the greatest.

They tried to keep this conversation quiet from Jesus.

Jesus knew what was going on and pulled them together and told them this in Mark 9:35…

"If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all."

Wait.

In order to be great, you have to be last?

This doesn't make much sense.

Yet this is what Jesus taught.

In order to be great you must be willing to be and do the smallest of tasks.

My friend Brian once was a manager of Burger King.

They had to clean the entire restaurant from top to bottom then some when the corporate guys came in.

They did everything.

Finally the day came for the big wigs to come in.

It was a day they were short handed.

Rather than watching the short handed staff, the executives filled in.

Brian said they jumped right in and did an amazing job.

Burger King executives needed to know how to make things work from top to bottom.

Rank was very important back in religious terms in Jesus day.

Yet Jesus was not about this.

As an example he brings out a kid.

At the time kids were looked at as basically nothing because they weren't depended on themselves.

Jesus tells them, whoever accepts this child accepts me and whoever accepts Jesus accepts God who sent him.

There are so many things in this world that just need people to do them or love them.

We have to swallow our pride and just do something's in order to make the world a better place.

What's one way you can serve someone else today?

Who could you some grace and love that you could share today?

Just because you are last doesn't mean you are last.

Have a great day.