Many work quietly and modestly in carrying out the will of God in their lives, and they are overlooked by the great ones and the powerful ones. What counts is what he has already said counts: that we should receive the kingdom of God as little children. A little child does not think of himself as important, significant. Christ delights to bless those who are small in their own opinion. The words of Christ are so important to us. Riches can keep you out and riches can almost capsize you once you are in. Remember the poor. May God help us all and speak to our hearts.
There is an interpretation of these words that I think is fairly absurd and that is that all Christians will be the same in the end, that this speaks of a dead-heat or equality but the various times Christ uses these words, that interpretation produces completely meaningless sentiment. No, it means what it says – there are many who are first who shall be last. In the context of Christ’s words, there are Christians who are rich and prosperous and with our feeble human judgment we may be inclined to say, ‘A Christian and blessed with riches?’ The first may only just get into heaven – saved by the precious blood of Christ, but an ‘only just’ person who scrapes in at the end. Why? Because those riches robbed them of spirituality. They robbed him of sincerity, they robbed him of usefulness. They were never deployed, they became his master as much as the true Lord. Whereas a person of simple tastes, generous, helpful to others, not ruled by the things of this world, will by the grace of God go into heaven, not deserving (none of us deserve) but with much instrumentality behind him and wonderful experiences and a blessed ministry of intercession, used of God. The first shall be last and the last shall be first.