It Isn’t Easy Being Last
“So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” Matthew 20:16 (NIV)
I find it easy to send clothes, money, food, and other necessities to those in need but struggle with the thought of being last. When I feel a nudge in my heart to allow a stranger to cut in front of me at the check-out or to sacrifice time in my already crammed scheduled my selfish spirit reveals itself.
My mind quickly races through all the reasons “I should haves and I should not have tos.” I work hard at my job. Take good care of my family. They are always feed, and most the time the meal is fairly nutritious. Everyone sleeps in bed with fresh sheets and wake up to clean clothes to put on. So why shouldn’t I be first sometimes? Is it wrong to want few simple pleasures in life? Like licking the chocolate syrup off the spoon after mixing the milk?
Laying down what we think we deserve is difficult. Putting others needs and wants before our own does not come naturally. It requires a minute-by-minute reliance on the Holy Spirit. He is our Enabler. He enables us to live fully at the end of the line.
No matter where you find yourself today, someone will inevitably ask to lick the chocolate off your spoon, the very pleasure you believe you deserve. In that moment yield to the Enabler and give the someone your spoon. The blessings God gives will far exceed the momentary joy of being having what we think we deserve.
I can’t explain it. When we go against our natural, God acts supernaturally on our behalf. He makes being last better than licking the chocolate off the spoon.
Thank you Wendy, I really needed a reminder that last is not always least. I am struggling with a co-worker always having to be first in everything. I am going to try harder to enjoy the Godly benefits of being last and recognize her need to be first.
You are so right, I can’t put it into words, but God just ends up blessing me and so many unexpected ways, because Dana is ALWAYS first. Just recently, when Steve and I went away, I just kept telling Steve how much I just felt so spoiled by God while on this trip. It really was crazy amazing. Thank you, for sharing your thoughts, as sometimes I feel like I’m the only one experiencing something…
Wendy, the chocolate spoon devotion was just perfect timing for me yesterday morning. I was VERY upset when I left work on Thursday about something that just was not right. Wendy I read your devotion about even though what happened was wrong, I had to give the spoon to the other person. God immediately blessed me Friday morning when I came in from safety patrol. God sent a special needs teacher with her student. The student wanted to come to the music room and sing a song accompanied by his toy guitar. Special moment. When this boy was in Kindergarten, he used to cover his ears and scream. I shared your devotion with the special needs teacher. Wow. How God works. Blessings.
As a newlywed who was single for many, many years, this rings true with the struggle of being a wife. I love my husband dearly, but I see the love I have for myself and my own way in a whole new light now. Letting go of those and trusting God to take care of my needs instead of me fighting for them on my own is proving tougher than I realized. Thank you for this encouragement.