Competition - The Kingdom Key of Least & Greatest

Competition - The Kingdom Key of Least & Greatest

READ | Matthew 18:1-4 “Therefore, whoever chooses to humble themselves as this little

child is greatest in the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:4).”

The desire to be great among our peers and in the eyes of others is the aspiration of most people. This desire for greatness often leads to competition. Competition can be healthy when it is done to motivate individuals or inspire groups to be their best. Most sports are competitive and have the goal of fostering healthy sportsmanship. Competition is unhealthy when it tears away at people’s self-esteem, self-image, and self-worth or causes them to do things that are unethical just to win.

According to Charles Fillmore, the founder of the Unity Movement, the ego is often represented by male characters in the Bible and emotions are symbolized by female figures in the scriptures. Jesus’ primary twelves disciples were men, and a part of their nature was to compete. Jesus went against the culture and taught that greatness in the Kingdom was about humility. He answered the disciples’ questions about greatness and illustrated the Kingdom Key of Least and Greatest by using a little child. In the eyes of Jesus, the King of the Kingdom, a child, who was considered the least, was the symbol of greatness.

Greatness requires a conversion, a change in our way of being, seeing, thinking, speaking, and doing things. Like the disciples, if we desire to be great, then we must change our views and look at life the way Jesus did. Functioning in arrogance and haughtiness causes us to be our least. Operating in humility and meekness empowers us to be our greatest. The choice is completely up to us whether we desire to function in the least or the greatest versions of ourselves.


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