Thank you for the application question from Matthew 23:1–12, “When you read Matthew 23:1-12, what is the most important thing that you can gather and really remember for the rest of your life?”
Since all Scripture is profitable for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, I can’t say that the above passage is The passage for me, but certainly one that is worth remembering.
It is tempting to want our own fame to grow, to desire greater acceptance and applauds from others or even to desire to be rich and famous in our life. This passage reminds me what John the Baptist said in John 3 that He must increase, I must decrease. The spotlight is not on myself, but it is to be on my Lord Jesus Christ.
Greatness in the kingdom of God is not climbing the ladder of honored position of becoming a fellowship leader, to a Deacon, to an Elder, to be the Chairman of the Elder Board or governing authority. It’s serving others, helping others even equipping others to fulfill their calling in their lives. It is not about getting, but about giving.
Sadly in our culture, the world teaches us to get and to climb upward which contradicts the Scriptural teaching of giving and serving others. Philippians 2 correlates with the above passage that Jesus, the Son of God, condescended to take on the appearance of man and to give his life for a ransom for humans. We are to walk in Jesus’ footsteps and not in the footsteps of our managers.
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