It is commonplace to find men striving with one another for the pre-eminence. The carnal heart of man revels in seeking self-glory and a place of prominence. Pride is native to fallen nature and urges men on to seek the first place. A lesser place will not do.
To find such a spirit in the world need not surprise us, but how sad it is when the same spirit enters the Church of God. How unprepared we are, then, to find this spirit of self-seeking and self-glorifying even among the select company of the disciples of our Lord when He was here among men. Yet it is of these disciples we read: “And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.” On more than one occasion the Saviour had to warn His disciples of this sin. Oh, how searching was His question to them in Capernaum when He asked: “What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?” He who knew all things knew well the sin of their hearts and lips. How speechless the disciples were. Why? Because, by the way, they had disputed among themselves who should be the greatest.
How tenderly the Lord dealt with them on that occasion when He sat down, and called the twelve, and said unto them, “If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.” How clearly He reinforced this teaching when He took a child and set him in the midst of them and took him up in His arms and said unto them: “Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me; and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.” Again how lovingly He taught them when He said: “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye shall not be so; but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. For
whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.”
What an example the Lord had given to His disciples of One who was meek and lowly in heart. What lowliness of mind and heart characterised the Saviour from the beginning to the end of His sojourn in this world. That is the example we are called upon to follow. If we are in any measure to be living followers of the meek and lowly Christ Jesus what need there is for putting off that proud, self-exalting spirit which finds such a place in us, and of putting on the grace of true humility. Oh what a noble grace is the grace of true humility! What shining lights do they become in the world who are richly endowed with this grace. Let us seek it for our own souls. Let us remember that the Lord is able to bestow this grace and not only in a limited measure but in great measure also. Has He not done it in the case of His outstanding servants in days past? And was it not this grace that made them great? Is not the Lord who so bestowed His grace in days past able to do it again for those who truly seek His face?