Greatest In The Kingdom
"Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"
(Matt. 18:1) This was the ambition revealing question which the disciples asked the Lord. We may not as frankly reveal our ambitions to be thought of as the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, nevertheless the "power struggles," which occur with such discouraging regularity, in first one church and then another, are evident that the wish to be accounted as great, without qualifying, is still present and with some is compulsive. The spirit of faction and vain-glory remains alive and active.
It would shock some to learn that many that are accounted great preachers, great saints, etc. by the world are in reality the least. Hear the Son of God — "Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 18:4).
In addition to humility the truly great in the kingdom of heaven are busy doing . . . . they are doing the will of God. Those who are ambitious to exercise authority ("run things") are noted for their prolific criticisms and the many things they can think of for someone else to do, etc. They readily volunteer for "positions" which will help their image of one who exercises authority. They maneuver themselves into the "glamorous" or attention getting situations, vainly thinking that such makes them great. But the teaching of our Lord remains the same — "If any man would be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all" (Mark 9:35).
Thirty years ago there lived in the town of Oxford, Mississippi, a great man. His name was Arthur Huggins and he operated a small shoe repair shop. This saint was advanced in years, so Brother Hugh Reaves and I approached Brother Huggins with the suggestion that he let us build the fires and brush up the meeting house early Sunday mornings. We felt that it was too much for the old brother to have to get up so early on those cold wintry mornings to build fires and have the meeting house comfortable for the saints to worship God. His reply put him among those that Jesus said were first. "Young brethren," he said, "You can teach classes, lead singing and preach; these things I am too old to learn to do, so just let me continue to do what I can do."
Do you want the Lord to classify you among the great in the kingdom of heaven? The Lord said "Whosoever" (every one that) — this includes you — would be great must humble himself and be servant of all. This is without glamour; it has no appeal to pride and will not magnify one in the eyes of the worldly. We need to be frequently reminded "that not many wise after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called" (I Cor. 1:26).
"He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord." I Cor. 1:31.
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