The Best of the Portals of Prayer

Read: Mark 10:35-45

“Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority.”
3rd John 9

Loving the Preeminence

St. John complains about Diotrephes, who was causing trouble in the Church because he “likes to put himself first”. The conduct of this would-be great toward the apostle revealed how very little he really was. The work of many a congregation has been adversely affected because some members love to play to the grandstand. If they cannot head the committee, they decline to serve at all; it they cannot sing the solos, they resign from the choir; if a suggestion they make is not adopted, they are insulted. They must have the preeminence, or else.
Such conduct in the work of the church often causes ugly divisions and offenses, and the most important work in the world, building the kingdom of God, may be seriously hampered.
It really matters little whether or not we occupy a position of preeminence in the church. What matters is that we serve to the best of our ability with the talents that God has given us. Nor is it important whether or not we are honored by men for the service we have rendered. God knows, and Jesus assures us: “If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him” [John 12:26].

Heavenly Father, forgive us for Jesus’ sake the sins of a proud and haughty spirit, of which we sometimes are guilty. Amen.

July 25, 1963