I well remember hearing my brother-in-law talking about his job. For some reason or the other, the job wasn’t going exactly the way he wanted.

This is what he said, “I was looking for a position and got a job.” I laughed about it then, and I still smile when I remember that story.

All positions eventually turn into a job. It happens in ministry just like everywhere else in life.

It’s easy to become enamored with your “position.” We all like the idea of having a corner office or our name on the door. We like prestige, power, and position.

Jesus warned his disciples about the scribes and Pharisees: “Beware of these teachers of the law! For they like to parade around in flowing robes and love to receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces. And how they love the seats of honor in the synagogues and the head table at banquets. Yet they shamelessly cheat widows out of their property and then pretend to be pious by making long prayers in public. Because of this, they will be severely punished” (Luke 20:45-47).

The problem is we are all looking for positions instead of ministries and servanthood. Even Jesus’ disciples fell into this trap–and it is a trap! The disciples argued among themselves about who was the greatest. James and John–and their mother!–wanted to receive the places of honor and authority.

Jesus reminded these disciples that the kingdom is not made up of positions. It is made up of disciples who become first because they were last.

Those who will be first in the kingdom are the ones doing the job rather than filling a position. They are those who faithfully serve without reward or recognition. Instead of having ministries, they do ministry.

God has called us to be servants. At best we can only be called “unworthy servants,” for we only have done what was our duty to do for our Master (Luke 17:9-10).

May you and I humble ourselves and pray that we might be faithful servants who serve God from our hearts of love and devotion.