He Who Is Least Is Great
by Edwin Crozier
The disciples repeatedly struggled with the very problem I have. In Luke 9:46, “An argument arose among them as to which of them was the greatest” (ESV). And that’s the problem. I want to be great. At least, I want you to think I’m great. Of course, you don’t have to think I’m great all by myself, but greater than the next guy.
How easy it is to get into the competition with other Christians. How easy it is to be unsatisfied with hearing, “Well done, my good and faithful servant,” and long to hear, “Great job, my best and most faithful servant.”
We long for greatness.
In Christ’s kingdom, however, things are upside down. Jesus doesn’t measure greatness as the world does. In His kingdom, the least are the greatest. The servants are the leaders. The slaves are the masters. The last are first.
We don’t climb the ladder to kingdom success. We don’t ascend the ranks to become the top dog. Instead, we descend. We humble ourselves before not only the King, but before His other servants. We wash feet and do dishes. We stack chairs and clean gutters. We visit the sick and do laundry. We interrupt our busy, important schedules to serve others with no thought of receiving anything in return.
Children, in Jesus’s day, were not idolized as they are today. They were a drain. Until they could contribute, they were considered among the least. When Jesus said, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me,” the point was in contrast to an unstated alternative. When a king, governor, or rich man knocked on your door and wanted to be your guest, and you received him, his honor rubbed off on you, your home, and your family. But a child?
Receiving a child would do nothing for you. A child could be little more than a beggar. But when we humbly receive the little child who can do nothing for us, we are actually receiving the King of heaven. And when we receive Him, we are also receiving His Father. And when we humbly receive the child, the honor of God Himself rubs off on us, our home, our family.
Those who are least are great. Let us receive and welcome them. More than that, let us be satisfied being them.
