The Last Shall Become First

I was out golfing in a four-man scramble with a co-worker and some other media types in yesterday's scorching heat. Sadly, our team finished tied for last out of 17 teams. The teams that topped everyone were loaded with people who knew how to play the game (many recruited just for this purpose).

Finishing last in a meaningless round of golf wasn't the worst thing in the world, but it did bring to mind Jesus' comments about being first and last. You may remember the story from Matthew 20 where Jesus told the story of a set of workers who started the job at different times of the day, and each ended with the same pay -- the last getting the same as the first. Naturally, the day workers who worked the longest and hardest were upset about the arrangement, but the employer reminded them of their pay agreements.

Just before telling this parable, Jesus dealt with the real life situation of a young, rich man who wanted to follow Christ, but couldn't let go of his prized possessions. After the man had left, Jesus explained to his followers how difficult it is for the rich to become followers, essentially pointing out that money tends to be their god as it was with the young, rich man. Jesus finished up this discussion the same way he finished his parable, "Many who are first will be last, and the last first."

I think Jesus was trying to make a point that we in America would do well in learning. In ways, America is just like the people Jesus was teaching 2,000 years ago. Life was relatively stable at that moment. The Romans, as hated as they were, had made a lot of improvements in the area. There were a good number of people who found themselves in prosperous positions -- some earned, some purchased.

Those with power and position tended to neglect the poor and helpless. So, when Jesus told folks that the last would end up in first, I'm sure His words struck folks as a bit odd. If Jesus were around today, those words would have the same impact.

We're so used to looking out for number one that we forget about the needs of those at the end of the line. So, when Jesus tells us to give our riches to the poor, we swallow hard and tell Him that this command is too hard to choke down. When he tells us to take care of the widows who have no one to care for them, those of us in charge take a pass and pass that buck onto someone else.

The last shall become first is an obvious lesson in humility, but I think it also signifies our responsibility as Christians to be intentional about a few things:

• We need to apply that whole humility thing to our lives. Yes, it'll mean swallowing our desire to be first in line, but that willingness to let go of the power and prestige will put us in line with Christ's message. The front of the line is temporary. It'll fade. But, our humility and willingness to help others will have eternal consequences.
• Everyone is important to God. We get that from the parable on the workers mentioned above. Those who signed up near the end of the day were just as important as those who started the day. The reward is the same in God's eyes.
• We need to be intentional in helping the needy. This isn't a job for someone else to do. When Christ told the rich, young believer to sell all he had and give it to the poor, he wasn't talking to some para-church organization. He was talking to you and I. He was talking to the church as a whole. The poor and widows, the children in need, the starving here and overseas are the church's responsibility, not someone elses.

Church. Christians. Step up to the plate. Be willing to be last -- to lower yourselves -- to get your hands dirty -- your shoulders wet with the sweat of laboring to fulfill the commands of Jesus. Honor God and don't leave it up to someone else.