As a Christian, I read the Bible. I don't study it the way others seem to study it, but I do devotions and I do read proverbs every day and I go through the Gospels and Acts and the letters of Paul.
One of the things that Jesus taught was to be a servant and not to think more of yourself than that. Paul expanded on the idea and said that as Christians we should be content with second place.
In my life, when I have expressed contentment with less than first place, I have been chastised. I have been encouraged to do better. I have been told my performance was not what it could have been. And I was skipped for rewards.
When I look at news outlets, I don't see any of them celebrating the person who came in second place. Not even any of the Christian news outlets. They all celebrate who won, who came in first, who the supposed best is.
I find it fascinating that we're so caught up in our society with performance and being better than others that people seem to skip right over this teaching in the Bible. In fact, they turn it and say that God made you and loves you more than anything else and you are the best. They say that we are entitled to things as children of God and we can walk into the throne room of heaven and demand things because we're the best of creation. And even if you were the only human being God still would have sent his son to die for you.
That's what they teach. And then I read this little message saying be content with second place and make yourself a servant. Jesus didn't even say anything, he just went and got the wash basin and towels and started washing his disciples feet. And then said go and do as I have done.
Tough lesson, hard to grasp. I'm glad God blesses me in second place.
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