These are tremendous things. How far people have moved from the principles that Christ laid down for his disciples: being sympathetic, dedicated, vigilant, peacemakers among the people of God! See the apostles: they were not dignified. They were clad as ordinary people, relatively poor men. There is no sign of any ecclesiastical robes in the Bible, any kind of splendour, any jewelled garlands and chains and drapes. There is no sign of what one person called the tea-cosies and the eiderdowns of the Anglican and Catholic churches. There is no sign of special honours, specially carved seats, positions in churches reserved for the Bishop when he attends. There is no sign of titles like Very Reverend, Right Reverend, Most Reverend and all the rest of it. There is nothing like that with the disciples. See the disciples: always on the move, always preaching, going from place to place, sometimes like Paul going without food and provision in order to get to a destination and to preach. They moved among the people; they lived dedicated and sacrificial lives. Most of them, we think, gave up their lives in martyrdom for the Lord. And that's the standard laid down. No palaces. Or if they are nonconformist preachers, no multiple homes and luxuries and ranches, and expensive possessions and plurality of cars. Oh the rich living ministers! Not only among the Prosperity Gospel people, but even among some Reformed people, you read of it. In our estimation a preacher disqualifies himself if he isn’t abiding by the rules of Christ. The servant is not greater than his Lord. How many servants are far better rewarded in material things than their Lord today. But these are the instructions of Christ and the principles. ‘The same shall be last of all, and servants of all.’
In the church, according to God’s order, to aspire to a high position means to want to please him in service and the route to that is to be one who cares for others, who seeks no advancement, one who is last and servant of all. They must be ready to be like Christ himself, or like the apostle Paul: least regarded among men. We see this in his journeys, and long toil for the Lord, in his acceptance of much humiliation and a low position, in all the insults and the vilification that he suffered. He was ready for that and so here he is, published in Holy Scripture, given the wonderful privilege and responsibility of being a penman of Holy Scripture and his name preserved down the centuries, an example to us all. And what is his example? It is one of self the good of others, of humility, of tremendous care and concern for souls about him, unsaved and saved alike.
This is the target for being approved of by the Lord. Put others first, care for them. This simple lifestyle: that is our standard. You look at some of the Christian magazines, particularly the Charismatic world and it is all boasts: this one is so gifted; that one is so gifted; this one is so wonderful; this one is on the front page – wonderful servants of God are paraded, boasted about, giving their own claims and boasts. It is nothing like the standards that Christ taught the disciples! If you or I would be first, and have God’s approval, then we must be prepared to be last and to be servant to all. That is the standard which Christ teaches his disciples. They didn’t learn it readily and nor do we. Two and a half years they had been with the Lord and they were still looking out for themselves. Another almost six months later it would still be happening among them. How slow we are to be sanctified; how slow we are to kill that demon of pride and to prepared to be last and servants of others. So we search our hearts every one of us and we must do so.