“The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

Status in the Kingdom of God is different than status in the kingdom of darkness. In the kingdom of darkness, having a high status means that one is served by others. In the Kingdom of God, on the other hand, having a high status means that one serves others. The life of Jesus Christ is the perfect example. Although He had the highest status, He humbled Himself to serve mankind. Scripture explains, “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many,” (Mark 10:45) and “though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant,” (Philippians 2:6-7).

Those in the kingdom of darkness that have high status, exalt themselves and are served by others, will pay a penalty for their affectations. They will be humbled. God does not sit idly by while the proud lift themselves up above everyone else. Rather, “God opposes the proud,” (James 4:6). The proud are guilty of reversing the proper order of status in society. Instead of serving others, they demand service from others. Since they have violated God’s ordained order, He opposes them and brings them down. Jesus spoke the words of our verses for today in reference to the scribes and Pharisees, whose prideful religious system was brought down completely with the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70.

Those in the Kingdom of God that have high status, yet humble themselves by being of service to others, are rewarded for their service. They will be exalted. God does not overlook the service of the humble to everyone else. Rather, He “gives grace to the humble,” (James 4:6). The humble, instead of lifting themselves up, look for ways to serve others. Since they have upheld God’s ordained order, He exalts them and lifts them up. Thus Jesus, unlike the scribes and Pharisees who were brought down from their self-exaltation, is forever exalted, lifted up and seated at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:2).

Today, take stock of the status you have achieved in the Kingdom of God—and then determine if you have allowed it to go to your head.

By John Huisman, Friend of Bible League International