I'm Better Than You Because...

Posted in , , , By Patty Kennedy 0 comments



An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest (Luke 9:46).


How clueless can you get?!? Jesus had just told the disciples that whoever wanted to follow Him must deny self and take up their cross. Then, in the verse immediately before this one, Jesus predicted His own death for the second time.

This doesn't exactly sound like a prime time to begin jockeying for position and prestige, does it? Oblivious to Jesus and the gravity of what He had been telling them, they totally missed the point.

But don't we all do the same thing? We get prideful about so many things:
  • our talents
  • our accomplishments
  • our jobs
  • our education
  • our possessions
  • our families
We may jockey for position even in spiritual matters, boasting that our spiritual gift is somehow superior (Pentecostals and charismatics seem particularly adept at this), or that the way we worship is how it should be done. We even get prideful about our denominational doctrines, thinking that if people don't believe like us, they are somehow missing an essential part of Christianity. We squabble over what kind of music to play in church, and how loud it should be. We argue about what curriculum should be used in our kids' programs. Tragically, churches have actually split over what color the carpet should be!

What is missing here is humility. We conveniently lose sight of the fact that we are supposed to deny ourselves and that, in God's economy, the LEAST will be the greatest. Consider these Scriptures:
  • Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each others' faults because of your love (Ephesians 4:2).
  • Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves (Philippians 2:3).
  • Serve each other in humility, for "God opposes the proud but favors the humble" (1 Peter 5:5).
  • Those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted (Matthew 23:12).
Humility and gentleness go a long way in promoting unity in the Body of Christ. Ask God to examine your heart this week and reveal where you might be lacking in this area.