Jesus made a profound statement: “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God” (Luke 18:24)
Paul addressed this same point in his first letter to Timothy. He told the young man to “command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy” (1 Timothy 6:17). Paul said they should do the following:
- do good that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share
- store up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come that they may lay hold on eternal life
The desire to become great should have no place among the disciples and followers of Christ. When James and John asked to sit on His right hand and on His left in His glory, Jesus said that it was not His to give but it was for those for whom it was prepared. Hebrews 11:16 states: But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.
John, who wanted to become great along with his brother, saw this city come down from Heaven. He heard a voice from Heaven say, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they will dwell them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God (Revelation 21:23).
Our attitude should be one of servitude just like Jesus’ was. He said to His disciples, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). Jesus is greater than all of us yet when He was here He was among them as the One who serves (Luke 22:27).
Jesus' Footprints 