One day in Vacation Bible School, I asked my class of third graders to line up at the doorway to head for snack time. What a wild rush! Every single child dashed for the doorway and struggled to get in first place in line. They elbowed, pushed, nudged, wriggled, and did whatever it took to work their way to the front. I watched them closely, thinking how it’s part of our nature to want to be first, to be most important, to reach the snack table an instant or two before anybody else.

In our hearts, don’t we often behave the same way? We want to be first, biggest, best, most admired, most appreciated. I suspect it’s built in, that we all have a powerful dose of the me-first impulse. And the world around us eggs us on. We deserve the best hair coloring, peanut butter, high-powered vehicle, fast food, and so on. The best mothers buy certain brands for their kids. The best fathers look for the very best furniture, clothing, and food for their families. Our culture steeps us in me-first-isms.

We’re urged to build strong self-esteem, take time for ourselves, put our wants and needs first, indulge our desires. It’s everywhere, all around us, sneaking into our lives at every turn. Magazines are crammed with self-help articles. Movies rarely celebrate selflessness. TV shows present supposedly appealing self-centered lifestyles.

Modesty, humility, and selflessness are rare in our society. It’s no wonder we jostle for first place. We compete to be the best—to have the best pie recipe, to be the best athlete, the best mom, the best salesperson. We collect trophies and awards. There’s nothing wrong with winning or being good at what we do. Striving for excellence is not a flaw. But when we put being best or being first ahead of anything else, we’re on the verge of disaster.

What comes first: self, or Jesus? What does Jesus ask of us? Does he cheer us on as we strive to be first, best, and above everyone else? Or does he get down on his knees and wash feet? Does he expect us to dash for the best spot, jostling everyone out of the way? Or does he smile at us if we stop to help someone else along the way?

We aren’t going to win prizes for pausing to help and encourage others, but our Lord will be pleased. It’s what he asks of us, that we put others ahead of self, that we reach out to encourage someone else, that we step back and allow another to get in line first. When we are so busy jostling for first place that we don’t notice those around us who need time and attention, then we aren’t where our Lord wants us to be.

Perhaps he wants us jostling for last place. Perhaps he wants us to invite someone else to step ahead of us for the honors and awards. Perhaps he wants us not to notice where we are in line because we are so focused on loving and serving him.

In the Vacation Bible School classroom that day, I stood and watched the children wrestling for first place in line. I watched as the least in the group fell into place at the back. I saw the expressions on their faces; those who were smallest or slowest were disappointed, but not amazed. They were used to being jostled out of line, pushed to the back. Never in first place.

After the children had shuffled themselves into place, the strongest and biggest at the head of the line, I asked for their attention.

“In the Bible,” I told them, “it says the first shall be last and the last shall be first.” Then the last became first out the doorway to enjoy their snack. It’s a lesson I hope we all understand. |L

OTHER COLUMNS:
November 15, 2009 - Bringing Christ to French Guiana
November 1, 2009 - Walking the edge
October 18, 2009 - Watch what you say
October 4, 2009 - Proposing a new proverb
September 20, 2009 - Fear and trembling
September 6, 2009 - Elwyn
August 23, 2009 - Where did the Bible go?
August 9, 2009 - The public school: a local mission field
July 26, 2009 - Astonishing the judges
July 12, 2009 - Letting the past go
June 14, 2009 - The path to spiritual growth
May 31, 2009 - A tribute to one of my heroes
May 17, 2009 - Silent soldier
April 19, 2009 - Operation Resensitization
April 5, 2009 - The temptations of ministers
March 8, 2009 - Conversation over shoes
February 22, 2009 - By their plurals you shall know them
February 8, 2009 - What is missing from your retirement plans?
January 25, 2009 - Turn the page
December 28, 2008 - Abba, Father
December 14, 2008 - Elementary truths
November 30, 2008 - The illusion
October 19, 2008 - Acting like a toddler
October 5, 2008 - Don’t miss this
September 21, 2008 - Foolish schemes
September 7, 2008 - God’s hand is everywhere
August 24, 2008 - The dance
August 10, 2008 - Strange land
July 27, 2008 - God’s amazing grace
July 13, 2008 - A best seller
June 29, 2008 - My grandfather’s clock and worship
June 1, 2008 - Reclaiming the name
May 4, 2008 - God is not our fairy godmother
April 6, 2008 - Success: what is it and who can measure up?
March 9, 2008 - Need to know
February 10, 2008 - The top three myths of singleness
January 13, 2008 - By invitation only
December 5, 2007 - Yes, Abbie, there is a Jesus
November 18, 2007 - 10 Ways to be a good Christmas customer
October 21, 2007 - The dividing line
September 23, 2007 - What do you fear?
September 9, 2007 - A life well lived
August 26, 2007 - To murmur, or not to murmur
July 29, 2007 - The cross and the Christian
July 15, 2007 - Turning the other cheek: still a valuable biblical principle
July 1, 2007 - Why the tie?
June 3, 2007 - The death of a son
May 6, 2007 - A prayer for the dying
April 8, 2007 - The omnipresent God
March 11, 2007 - Do the Amish have superheroes?
February 11, 2007 - What’s your black history?
January 14, 2007 - The split branch
December 31, 2006 - The house of regret
December 10, 2006 - The redemption of the innkeeper
November 26, 2006 - Too many choices
November 12, 2006 - Break the bashing habit: Learning to love the unsaved like Christ does: November 12, 2006
October 15, 2006 - Be ‘salt and light’ this Christmas!: October 15, 2006
September 17, 2006 - Who is a legalist?: September 17, 2006 Issue 38
July 23, 2006 - God speaks through our brokenness: July 23, 2006 Issue 38
June 25, 2006 - 'What I am looking for in my church leaders'