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Motivated

Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” - Mark 9:35

If you want to be first in the Kingdom of God you must be a servant. How simple is that? Jesus, in one simple sentence, gives all of us the key to success. Be a servant to others and you will be first. That seems to be easy enough.

I hope you’re not buying anything I wrote in that first paragraph. First, the Bible isn’t a ‘How To’ book that will answer all your questions and put you on a path to success in life, love and business. Anyone who tells you otherwise is selling you something…usually their own book that treats Jesus like some sort of success guru. In this passage Jesus was confronting his disciples having caught them arguing about who would be first. He challenges them, and us, to stop thinking the way the world thinks and start wrapping our minds around the truth.

The truth is that if your motivation is to be first then you’ll do whatever it takes to make that goal. If it means stepping on people or short-changing widows or cheating the poor you’ll do it. Jesus, here and elsewhere, makes it clear that he couldn’t care less about being first and his followers shouldn’t either. If you see serving as just another way to achieve your goal of being first then you’ve grossly misunderstood Jesus’ point. When we’re surrendered to God our position in this life and eternity is inconsequential. What is important, truly important, is serving others with the love of Christ motivated by our awareness that we live bathed in the grace and mercy of God through no effort of our own. And even our motivation comes from the Holy Spirit because, left to our own devices, we pursue first place, even if we have to serve others to get there. Take some time today and consider what motivates you.

Prayer
Lord, make me a servant. Not so that I might achieve anything but so that you might be glorified. Search me and create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me so that I am motivated by your Spirit and not my own desires. Amen.