Between You And God #23

Dear God, Doesn’t it seem a little unfair that pushy people always get to be first and patient people end up last?

One morning a wise Sunday school teacher asked her class to line up for a surprise. There was plenty of pushing and shoving and cutting to get to the front of the line. When they left the classroom, the students were surprised to find out that the “surprise” was that they were being led to the front of the church to sing. Those who had wanted to be first for a treat actually had to stand front and center and warble!

The next month, the teacher asked her class to line up again, and this time, no one wanted to be in front. Instead of pushing to get to the front, they dove behind one another to get to the back and pushed the weaker kids to the head of the line. Imagine their shock when she led them to the church kitchen for leftover cake. The kids at the front got to choose first.

Christianity is the upside-down, sometimes-backward-is-frontward faith. Scripture says that those who look out only for themselves will end up with less than those who look out for others, too. The person who sits down at the head of the table will be asked to move to the foot of it—to make room for the person who didn’t push to be first.

Don’t worry. Do the right thing, and be willing to be the caboose from time to time. God promises that even if we can’t see it, the Teacher will turn the line around so that the caboose actually becomes the engine.

Cake, anyone?

How about You?

Do you ever feel like the pushers and shovers get the good stuff? What are some things you can do to look out for others instead of trying to get ahead in the line?

God Says . . .

Those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last. Matthew 20:16