What steps can we take to prioritize humility over status, as taught in Matthew 20:21? Setting the Context “When the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Him with her sons, kneeling down, she asked a favor of Him. ‘What do you want?’ He asked. She said, ‘Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at Your right hand and the other at Your left in Your kingdom.’” (Matthew 20:20-21) What Went Wrong in the Request - The appeal sprang from a desire for prominence rather than service. - It ignored Jesus’ repeated warnings that greatness in His kingdom is upside-down from worldly greatness. - The request sought an elevated position without embracing the path of sacrifice (vv. 22-23). Jesus’ Corrective Teaching “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:26-28) Practical Steps to Prioritize Humility Over Status 1. Examine Motives Regularly • Ask, “Am I doing this to be seen or to serve?” (Galatians 1:10) • Invite the Spirit to search the heart (Psalm 139:23-24). 2. Embrace the Servant’s Basin and Towel • Look for unnoticed tasks and take them joyfully (John 13:12-15). • Serve without expectation of recognition or repayment (Luke 14:12-14). 3. Celebrate Others’ Advancement • “In humility consider others more important than yourselves.” (Philippians 2:3-4) • Speak words that elevate others rather than self (Proverbs 27:2). 4. Practice Obscurity on Purpose • Choose anonymity when possible—give secretly, help quietly (Matthew 6:1-4). • Let God handle any promotion in His timing (1 Peter 5:6). 5. Keep Jesus’ Cross in View • Remember that our Lord’s path to glory was Calvary first (Hebrews 12:2). • Measure greatness by likeness to Christ, not by earthly rank (Romans 8:29). 6. Cultivate Gratitude Over Entitlement • Thank God for every role—big or small—He assigns (Colossians 3:17). • See every opportunity as grace, not a right earned. Encouraging Examples • John the Baptist: “He must increase; I must decrease.” (John 3:30) • Moses: called “very humble, more than all men” despite leading a nation (Numbers 12:3). • Ruth: chose gleaning in the fields over seeking immediate honor, and God exalted her (Ruth 2–4). Daily Self-Check - Did I seek applause or pursue obedience today? - Did I silently rejoice when someone else was honored? - Did I take at least one lowly task with a willing heart? Taking these steps moves us from the mother’s misplaced ambition in Matthew 20:21 to the Savior’s model in Matthew 20:26-28, making humility—not status—the unmistakable hallmark of kingdom greatness. |
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