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