Kingdom of Heaven's Upside-Down World Economy
How many of you who call yourselves apostles or prophets would still call yourselves that if it were changed to servant instead of Apostle?
People want to have big, important names and titles. People want to be like kings or famous people that can influence others. People want to be leaders, but do they have what it takes? Having power and influence without the character to hold them leads to destruction.
In the church, the leadership positions everyone wants to be called are Apostle, prophets, or even pastors. They are seen as having the highest positions. Not everyone wants those things for the right reasons. Man cannot see the heart of a man, but man can see the fruit of a man. We cannot judge the heart, but we can judge the fruit or lack of it, to have discernment of ourselves and others.
Would those same people who want those positions of authority still want them if they were called to be servants instead of being served? Not many people want to be servants. Most people think being a servant puts you in the lowest position. No power or influence, and a weakness. They think it's shameful. This is how the world sees it, but not how the Kingdom of heaven sees it. Look at how the disciples respond to Jesus when He took the lowest position to wash their feet. People who hold those positions have no value or honour in the world. Jesus turned the disciples' perspective upside down. Our value isn't based on what we do, but on who we are in Christ. That is the truth of our identity. We don't need to strive to prove it. We are valuable because God says we are.
Think of a triangle
The world sees the top as the best place to be, with people below you, making you better than them and the ones you serve. Like a king or a boss who gets served with high honour by the world.
In the Kingdom of heaven, the triangle is flipped upside down. The same person at the top point is at the bottom, serving everyone above them. Everyone is responsible for reaching out to God to walk closer with him. Rely on God instead of man.
You see that things in the Kingdom of heaven are the opposite of the ways of the world.
To be the greatest in the Kingdom of God, you have to become the least by serving. In the Kingdom of heaven, it is to go low to go high. By giving up your life and following Jesus, you find it. Jesus served others, and one fruit to look for in a true follower is a servant with a humble heart. They served because their master serves. They serve out of love, not pride. If they don't have love, they have nothing. Everything is meaningless without love governing the actions.
"If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. “1 Corinthians 13: 1-3
Not everything that comes in the name of love is real love. Let's look at what the bible says love is.
"4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." 1 Corinthians 13: 4-7
"13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." 1 Corinthians 13:13
Jesus gave up his high position, came down to earth, became a servant, and served everyone. He was the biggest servant and now holds the highest position in heaven. He did this because of love. He loved us so much that he laid down his life to pay for the cost of our sins. He could have stopped at any time and said it was too much or not worth it. But he didn't; he stayed on the cross and endured all that suffering for us so we could be one with him.
Imitating Christ's Humility
2 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in Spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2: 1-11
How we do our work matters. Obedience is better than sacrifice, yes, but willing obedience is better than begrudging obedience. Your heart posture matters more than the act itself. Jonah's story in the big fish is a good example of begrudging obedience. God will use it, but Jonah lost out on the fullness of its blessing. Man cannot judge a heart, for only God can see the truth of a heart. That is why being fruit inspectors is the discernment that we need to navigate the world and its clever lies masquerading as truth. A wolf in sheep's clothing will produce fruit of the world, not of the Spirit.
The fruit of the flesh is described like this,
"19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the Kingdom of God." Galatians 5: 19-21
The Fruit of the Spirit
"22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." Galatians 5:22-23
We are all running the race of life and are at different stages of growth in following Jesus. We need to show each other grace and mercy. The key is to look at the consistency of the fruit being produced and the evidence of true repentance to determine the wise next steps. That is its own sermon. Proverbs offers foundational teachings and a great place to start learning God's way.
Paul sums everything up in Philippians.
Do Everything Without Grumbling
12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now t o act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, "children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation." Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky 16 as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. 17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me. Philippians 2: 12-18
Since the beginning, it remains the same: God is after the heart of man. A heart that is devoted to him. The fruit of it is obedience to his word, walking in faith governed with love and filled with hope in the unseen God. It requires us to circumcise our hearts from our flesh, to deny ourselves, pick up our cross, and follow Jesus. He is the only way to the Father. Everything else is a clever lie, creating a shortcut, saving our flesh from true circumcision in our hearts, and feeding the pride of man.
I struggle with my walk with the Lord. Everyone does if they are honest. It is ok to struggle. What matters is where our heart is turned and our faith in action. Trusting and believing God to be our God and us his people as we walk in his ways. The only thing you can take with you into eternity is the relationship you had with God on earth. Let that sink in for a bit. That is how important having a relationship with God is. What kind of relationship would you like to have with him when you stand before him someday?
Prayer
Father God,
Thank you for wanting a relationship with us. Thank you that, despite it all, you still want to be our God and our Father. You sent your perfect Son to die for us to pay the price so we can be with you. You are a Holy God and a Just God. Your ways are so much more than rules or laws. It is the way of your heart that protects people from evil, allowing them to walk the path of righteousness and blessing, and be covered by your protection. It is wisdom freely given to us to choose what path in life we take. You have never abandoned us; you provide ways to come to you and to know you. You promise that if we seek you with our whole heart, you will be found. You do not lie like man. Thank you for not giving up on us and for your long-suffering as you wait for us. Thank you for the mercy and grace that allow us to come back to you. You are the same today as you were yesterday. Steadfast and unchanging, the Alpha and Omega. Thank you that you are not afraid of our struggle as we follow you. Thank you for your kindness and willingness to teach us. Father, I pray that everyone who reads this lays their hearts down for you. That they taste and see that you are good.
I pray that they don't get caught in vain striving, trying to earn your love and acceptance. That they can rest in their identity as your children. Those who have not accepted Jesus into their life as Lord and saviour, to do so, so they too can be saved and become your children too. Teach us how to love like you and to go in the way you always intend us to be from the foundations of the earth. That we are fruitful and multiply and subdue the earth like you originally commanded. Pull the lies from our eyes and hearts so we can see you in the truth of who you really are, God. The world works so hard to spread lies and confusion; I pray that is cut from our lives, and we see with truth, love, and wisdom. In Jesus' name, amen, and thank you.