We live a Linkedin lifestyle. We develop hundreds of connections with people we know very little about. We’ve never spoken to them, let alone met in person. We have no interest in friendship or mutual edification. Rather, we connect with these people because of what they can offer us. More connections, influence, information and power are at stake as we use our connections and acquaintances to further our own ambitions.
But what happens when we meet someone that has nothing to offer us? Someone that has no money, network or influence? I’ll tell you what I’ve done. I’ve been annoyed. Annoyed that this person even wants to talk to me. As a result, our conversation is awkward and I do not show interest in that person’s life. This is a very selfish perspective and I’m not proud of it. But God is gracious in correcting and molding me to see things as He does as you’ll read below.
One day I had an interaction with one of these individuals that seemingly had nothing to offer me. As our conversation continued, I had this impression that the person I was talking to was wearing a crown, like a royal crown. Then, in my mind, I was reminded of the scripture that reads, “But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first. (Matthew 19:30)” and immediately my attitude and perspective changed. I wasn’t talking to a person that had nothing to offer me, I was talking to a king!
God’s kingdom works differently than ours. First and last do not mean the same thing that they do here on earth. In the verse mentioned above, Jesus clarifies the reality that the ones on earth who are poor, homeless and shunned by society, are actually first in the kingdom of God.
When we take time to serve and appreciate people in this world that have nothing to offer us, we are serving the people that are first in God’s kingdom. We are serving kings and queens. What an honor! Now when I talk to someone that is supposedly last by the world’s standard, I try to remind myself by thinking, “Wow, this person is a king! How can I serve them? How can I appreciate them? What can I learn from their lives” It’s a state of humility and servanthood that allows us to love our neighbor as ourselves.
Have you ever had a conversation with someone that you thought was a waste of time? Knowing God’s ranking system is different than ours, how can you treat those individuals with more honor? Who are some of the unknown “kings or queens” that have walked through your life?
Be blessed.
Want to connect with God in the day to day? Click the menu at the top and enter your email for weekly fingerprintss devotionals!
fingerprintss 