Be First

I suspect we have all witnessed events like these.

• Gridlocked, you notice someone weaving in and out of clogged lanes.  They scratch and crawl and change lanes so often as to be uncountable.  You've watched for nearly 10 minutes and they've succeeded.  They are now 2 cars in front of you.  They are first.  
• As your turn arrives at a 4-way stop, someone insists on attaching themselves in "two-for" style by following bumper-to-bumper on the tail of another as they move through the intersection.  Ignoring custom, this person scrambles to make you wait.  Hooray! They have achieved first place - exactly one car ahead of you.
• You are hosting a dinner party and have spent 45 minutes shopping.  It's the holiday season and everyone is doing the same.  The grocery line is queued and you're 5th in line.  A considerate clerk recognizes the build-up of customers and opens a new checkout line. It happens at the speed of light. The newest person in line dives at warp speed to be the first in the new lane. "Congratulations", you whisper under your breath.  Well, maybe not.

As this 'I'm number one" philosophy seems to be built into our cultural DNA, let's BE first then.

• Be first to make eye contact.
• Be first to smile.
• Be first to greet a stranger.
• Be first to apologize.
• Be first to say thank you.
• Be first to say - you first.

Alright then, we want to be first.  This is how we do it.

Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matt 20:25-28