Who Gets A Trophy For Finishing Last

Then [Jesus] came to Capernaum. And when He was in the house He asked [His disciples], “What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?” But [His disciples] kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest. And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all. - Mark 9:33-35

Perhaps the greatest challenge we have as Christians is avoiding the interpretation of spiritual truth through the lens of the natural world. In high school the students vote to declare the person in the class most likely to succeed. For the person who is the smartest. For the person who is most popular. Identifying people are the best in some category.

But Jesus said to be the best in the kingdom of God you must be a servant. Declaring everyone else as more important than yourself. You know the second greatest commandment. Jesus said of himself -  the Savior of the world - 

And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many. - Matthew 20:27-28

Not only did Jesus model that life for us, but He called us to follow His example.

Then [Jesus] said to [the disciples], “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. - Luke 9:23-24

giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God. Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her - Ephesians 5:20-22,25

The sinful nature was given birth through man's desire to be his own god. To make his personal well-being the thing of primary importance. But our admonitions from the Apostle John was and is ....

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. -  1 John 2:15-17

So who gets a trophy for finishing last? The children of God, that's who! And like the Apostle Paul we must press on to win the prize for which God has called us  

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 3:13-14

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory. 

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone