Keepin' it real

Sketch for Christ Rebuking His Disciples by Calling the Little Child  

Charles Robert Leslie 

circa 1858

And they came to Capernaum: 

and when he was in the house he asked them, 

What were ye reasoning in the way? 

But they held their peace: 

for they had disputed one with another in the way, 

who was the greatest. 

And he sat down, 

and called the twelve; 

and he saith unto them, 

If any man would be first, 

he shall be last of all, 

and minister of all. 

Mark 9:33-35 RV

Well, pride comes before a fall.

I have to admit I have been feeling a bit confident recently. Possibly a bit over confident.

There isn't really much point in comparing oneself to others. It doesn't lead to any good. All that can come from it really is negativity. Anyway, move on.

In the above reading, Jesus tackles the disciples about their talking about who is the greatest of them. the interesting thing is that he doesn't tell them not to do so. They obviously knew this would be something that He would not approve of.

Instead He informs them of what being being the greatest actually consists of, and in typical Jesus fashion, it throws everything on its head.

To be the greatest, to be the best, one needs to be the least. To be a leader, one needs to serve. The great reversal. But what this to do with pride?

There is nothing wrong with doing well. There is nothing wrong with wanting to do well. There is something wrong with that being the goal. There is something wrong with ones own sense of self worth  being tied up with someone else's opinion of their work. 

This is something I deal with a bit. I used to let reviews of music determine my confidence. It seems I still place my sense of self worth on such things.

The point is it is not about being first, or best, or whatever. It is about doing your best, staying humble, being grateful for what one has been allowed to achieve.