Who is doing the most work, the one who thinks of what needs to be done, or the one who performs the task necessary, what is more demanding, physical or mental labor, more rewarding, more beneficial to others, who is doing the greater work, the one who follows or the one who leads, the one who prays earnestly, or the provider of food to the hungry.
There are those who seek for power, and there are those upon whom it is laid unwillingly, and it is always easy to differentiate between the two, for the one who desires it will always want to be followed. Such is the nature of pride, it does not see itself as equal, but always better, it demands attention, it is always in need of substance, and that food is recognition.
“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (James 5:16) That does not sound as if this individual is seeking anything more than the will of God in their life, it sounds as if they have given the direction of their life to the Lord God, and all of it for His glory, they seek no recognition for themselves.
Those who desire power will fight for it, they will do all they can to be in the highest position of leadership possible, but they are foolish people who have never come to the realization that they are but dust, (Psalm 103:14) and the very best that they can hope for is a few pages in a history book, notes and references that will soon be forgotten, for power does not want others to have power. It is a fool’s errand, and is always seen clearest in the highest members of nearly every government, their childish quarreling, the continuous in-fighting, each attempting to assert their will above all others, wanting to be recognized as more important, more knowledgeable, more worthy than all others.
“And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.” (Mark 10:44) He washed their feet, the Creator of all reality, of all that is, stooped down to those who were arguing between themselves about who was the greatest, and changed their lives. “Before honor is humility.” (Prov. 18:12) All who seek for power will never understand this verse, none who seek for recognition will ever be honored, save by those who do not understand humility.
A man is the sum total of all his parts, his life is not based in one moment of time, whether he be saved or lost, no one who is sixty years of age is the same person they were when they were twenty. “The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.” (Prov. 16:31) Age never indicates wisdom, age has nothing to do with faith in Christ Jesus, faith is trust, trust earned should not need to be repeated, it should not have to prove itself over and over again. This is in part why Jeremiah 17:5 stands true, “Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.” For that man has placed his confidence, his faith, in one who is flawed, in one who cannot retain the momentary honor of trust that has been placed upon them for any longer than that moment.
This world has devolved into a conglomeration of those who are not only proficient at, but seek earnestly to point out the faults in others, they are quite well versed in showing to all that will listen that because of an incident of fault, that the person some are following is not worthy of being followed, there are many who have absolutely no problem throwing the first stone.
He washed their feet, the Judge of all mankind, the One who has the power to cast men’s souls into hell taught humility, and He could have just as well taught it in any number of ways, and it would have been just as well understood.
Humility is an action, the cause is Christ, the effect is most generally misunderstood as weakness, a grave mistake by those who do so.
“But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.” (Matt. 23:11) That is the cornerstone of the faith of the saints, we do not seek power, nor will we accept it, for all power belongs to God, our responsibility, our pleasure and joy, is to show Jesus Christ to others, to lead them to the cross, to tell them of the eternal hope that awaits all who will call upon His name. Pride my friends, has no place to stand at the foot of the cross.