Forfeiting A Prize Has It's Reward

Forfeiting A Prize Has It’s Reward “I am so mad! I was first in line and when they opened they began at the end.” “Are you crazy! I’m going to help myself before I even think of helping anyone else!” “I don’t care if I have 3 computers, I won this one and I’m keeping it. Why should I give it to that kid whose parents can’t afford to buy him one!” If we are first we may be able to assure our purchase, our allotment of free goodies or perhaps even our pick of the litter. Being first should not always be at the top of our desires. Allowing someone to go in front of us should not make us feel cheated. Signing up for a free concert for the underprivileged and finding that our name is not on the list should not make us feel short changed. Being rich, famous or better off than our neighbor should not make us feel as though we are above everyone else. When you live your life as a servant of others, when you can be humble and generous, and wish well those who receive benefits you did not, you will find your heart feels as though it won a great prize. Mark 9:30-37 Jesus and his disciples left from there and began a journey through Galilee, but he did not wish anyone to know about it. He was teaching his disciples and telling them, “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill him, and three days after his death the Son of Man will rise.” But they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to question him. They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house, he began to ask them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” But they remained silent. For they had been discussing among themselves on the way who was the greatest. Then he sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.” Taking a child, he placed it in their midst, and putting his arms around it, he said to them, “Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me.”