How to Lead an Extremely Significant Life. Anita Mathias Dreaming Beneath the Spires

16th century icon

How to Lead an Extremely Significant Life Matthew 20: 20-28

Jesus came from a Kingdom of voluntary gentleness, in which

Christ, called the Lion of Judah, stands at the centre of the throne

in the guise of a lamb, looking as if it had been slain. No wonder his

disciples struggled with his counter-cultural values. Oh, and we too!

Salome, the mother of the Apostles James and John, asks Jesus

for a favour—that once He became King, her sons got the most

important, prestigious seats at court, on his right and left. And

the other ten, who would have liked the fame, glory, power,

limelight and honour themselves are indignant and threatened.

Oh-oh, Jesus says. Who gets five talents, who gets one,

who gets great wealth and success, who doesn’t–that the

Father controls. Don’t waste your one precious and fleeting

life seeking to lord it over others or boss them around.

But, in his wry kindness, he offers the ambitious twelve

and us something better than the second or third place.

He tells us how to actually be the most important person to

others at work, in our friend group, social circle, or church:

Use your talents, gifts, and energy to bless others.

And we instinctively know Jesus is right. The greatest people

in our lives are the kind people who invested in us, guided us

and whose wise, radiant words are engraved on our hearts.

Wanting to sit with the cleverest, most successful, most famous

people is the path of restlessness and discontent. The competition

is vast. But seek to see people, to listen intently, to be kind,

to empathise, and doors fling wide open for you, you rare thing!

The greatest person is the one who serves, Jesus says. Serves?

How? By using the one, two, or five talents God has given you

to bless others, by finding a place where your deep gladness and

the world’s deep hunger meet. Writers, write what is a blessing.

Entrepreneurs, let your products bless. And serving includes

hospitality, walking with a sad friend, and tidying up a house.

And that is the only greatness worth having. That you yourself,

your life and your work are a blessing to others. That the love

and wisdom God pours into you lives in people’s hearts and minds

and blesses them. May the Lord bless us as we seek to follow him.

Republished with permission from Blogs.crossmap.com, featuring inspiring Bible verses about How to Lead an Extremely Significant Life. Anita Mathias Dreaming Beneath the Spires.

By Crossmap Blogs

Crossmap.com is a Christian living portal website serving the U.S. and global Christian communities. It is pan-denominational, viewing all Christian denominations as equal constituents of the body of Christ, and all Crossmap staff and contributors adhere to our statement of faith.

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *