Mark 9:35 And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.

Does this passage mean that if you desire to be first you should serve all and in that way you will become first? That is how it is interpreted by most people. But is that really what it says?

I see the problem as being desire. Scripturally God used men that did not want to serve. Anything from “I can’t.” to “I won’t.” was said by men like Moses, Gideon, and Jonah. They were used mightily by God to prove God’s will for mankind.

I will share my human instinct in what I see in this verse. The flesh is after all flesh. Suppose I were to cut in line for a popular movie that was about to sell out. An officer called to keep order would pull me out and say, “Back of the line!” My desire would to be first, not to be left out, I would have no consideration for anyone else other than myself. As I went to the back of the line I would both resent the officer and everyone in line before me.

Philippians 2:6-8 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

One of the most difficult things for us to do in Kingdom service is in knowing we are sons of God and not letting that go to our heads. Our human side will allow ourselves to see service as being the thing to do and push aside everyone else in order to serve. In reality service is not the thing that comes first, obedience comes first. Obedience to the Lord keeps order and alignment with the will of God.

John 5:30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.