The disciples argue about who is the greatest

The disciples argue about who would be the greatest.

Mark 9:33-37 After they arrived at Capernaum and settled in a house, Jesus asked his disciples, “What were you discussing out on the road?” But they didn’t answer, because they had been arguing about which of them was the greatest. He sat down, called the twelve disciples over to him, and said, “Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else. Then he put a little child among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, “Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not only me but also my Father who sent me.” This is an interesting scripture and is important to us today. Jesus had to remind the disciples that it is not about how important or great we are. He says if you want to be great, be the least and serve everyone else. And don’t look down on anyone and welcome everyone, love everyone, and teach everyone about him. It’s about a relationship with Jesus and serving and helping the kingdom grow. It is not about who does more or who’s the best and we are not in competition with each other. Look, there is nothing wrong with using your gifts to help others and the church and being fruitful and have zeal and want to please the Lord. It talks about using your gifts and what the Lord has given each of us in Matthew 25:14-30. This is a serious scripture and we will be judged for how we used all that God has given us. The apostle Paul took the work he did for the Lord very seriously and it’s amazing all he did and how hard he worked. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 ‘Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.’ They had athletic games where people competed every 5 years in Corinth. I think Paul is saying to the church in Corinth look I train harder and longer to become like Jesus and do the work he has given me for the kingdom then these guys in these games do and so should you. I like this translation because it uses the word temperate in all things meaning you have your desires and passions under control. It’s not just running the race to win or doing good, it’s how you run the race. You’re not like a wild animal running around just thinking about yourself and how much you can have and do. You are doing your best to glorify God and to help others with the love from God and the Holy Spirit in you. 2 Timothy 1:7, ‘For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.’ This next line is a quote I picked up from a study a while back that I thought was good: ‘The disciples fell into the same trap of getting so "busy" with running the operation of "The Way" and competing for a higher place in heaven that they forgot why they were chosen in the first place’. I think it is easy to take what the Lord gives and the zeal and power from the Holy Spirit and end up forgetting what the most important thing is and end up maybe hurting people. Galatians 5:15 ‘If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.’  Honestly, I think I will be hurt and as bad as I don’t want to, I will probably end up hurting someone. But here is the big thing for me after writing this; we are all different with different experiences.  In my past, from 1^st grade to probably around 2005, being 40 then, I was always in very competitive situations. I was in athletics and then owned a business and was taught by the world how to compete. I didn’t know the Lord until 2003 and didn’t know God’s word, so I was taught at an early age if you don’t win you loose. And there is no prize or pats on the back or not many second chances if you loose. That’s what the world teaches and how it trains people and our kids to be. But the Lord had started stripping me of this way and attitude way before I came to him.  It was quite painful because I didn’t have an understanding of why things were happening to me like they were till about 10 years later when I accepted Jesus and started reading God’s word. When I came to the Lord I was very tired of this way and being like I was and he changed me. I am very different person in this area than I was before, completely different. I was a very competitive person in all I did and it was hard on me and a lot of people. I am far from what I hope to be and have a long way to go, but I am very thankful and grateful to the Lord for this change in my life. So I have no excuses not to understand this teaching because of my past and what the Lord has done and taught me and he will hold me accountable. Luke 12:47-48 ‘And a servant who knows what the master wants, but isn't prepared and doesn't carry out those instructions, will be severely punished. But someone who does not know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly. When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.’  When a person comes to the Lord, the last thing a person wants to see is people competing with each other about who is the greatest, the best leader, or who is more fruitful. They have had that shoved down their throat their whole life from the world. They need love and a place to heal and learn about the Lord. The kingdom, church, or body of Christ is a special place where everyone is loved by the Lord and everyone is valuable and needed. The church is held to a higher standard, it is responsible to the teaching of the Lord and God’s word. It’s not just about a good performance and running a race it’s about how we run, how we love and treat others, how we live by these examples. Romans 12:2 ‘Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.’ John 13: 34-35 “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”