The Godly Servant Is the Greatest

Read the following in context of how to become the greatest. Keep in mind it is Christ's instructions that no one can supersede.

Matt 23:11-12: (KJV) 11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

Matt 20:27-28: (KJV) 27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: 28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Mark 9:33-37: (KJV) 33 And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way? 34 But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest. 35 And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all. 36 And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them, 37 Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.

Mark 10:42-45: (KJV) 42 But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. 43 But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: 44 And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. 45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. When you build a hierarchy where one man can rule over another you will already have failed to follow the instructions.

Luke 9:46-48: (KJV) 46 Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest. 47 And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by him, 48 And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.

When you build a hierarchy where one man can rule over another, you will have already failed to follow the instructions.

Luke 22:24-27: (NKJV) 24 Now there was also a dispute among them (the apostles), as to which of them should be considered the greatest. 25 And He (Christ) said to them, the kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and those who exercise authority over them are called benefactors. 26 But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he who governs as he who serves."  (Christ asks a question in verse 27.) "For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves?  Is it not he who sits at the table?  Yet I am among you as the One who serves. (By this illustration, Christ shows by his example of serving that the person serving the meal was the greatest.  Serving is Christ's priority for leadership.)

The earliest Christians had no hierarchy but operated as an open independent congregation.

Acts 6:1-6. With the laying on of hands, the apostles showed their support for the choice of the congregation.

Christ, through his example of serving, showed us the way to become the kind of servant that we are to become. Satan and his followers refuse this standard, they want to be served.

Stephen followed the example set before him. He also applied the new commandment by removing self just as Christ said to do. [John 15:12-13]

Some early Christians did die for one another. [1 John 4:10-11, Romans 5:6-7, John 15:9-13]. Scripture says it will happen and history tells us it did happen.

If we go under hierarchy rule, those over us take away our free moral agency by making the choices we are to follow. [Following men instead of following GOD].

If you think this is wrong try disagreeing with [their] doctrine. The leaders want to be the BOSS and all others are to follow them.

In whose eyes do we want to be the greatest?

2-17-12, Earl McDowell