What Position Does He Hold?

A good leader knows how to filter requests.  Some are looking out for the betterment of the organization, some on the other hand, are looking out for personal benefit.  The later have a unique skill of framing their request as an obvious choice.  It should also be mentioned that most of the ones requesting for their own personal gain or security, rarely see they are asking it for that purpose.  We have such a case recorded in the life of Christ and His disciples.  Mark 10.35 says— “And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire.”  Wow, that’s bold!  It is as if they said—’Um, I want you to give me whatever I want.’  Sounds bad, but it gets worse.  In walks a missing character to the story… Mommy!  We find this in Matthew 20.20-21— “Then came to him the mother of Zebedees children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.  And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.”  The text goes on (22-28) to explain Jesus’ full answer.  My point in this post is to raise awareness of the thinking of the family represented here. How does that affect our roll as a disciple of Christ?

At first glance people look at this and think… man how arrogant?  That’s really not the problem.  In the text before, Jesus just foretold His own death.  HE even explained the Apostles future place in the kingdom, where He said… Matthew 19.27-30— “Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?  And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.  And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.  But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.”  Focus if you would on verse 30 “But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.”  Also, He just said in verse 16 “So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.”

They’re not arrogant… they’re carnal!  So the problem is a carnal mind that attempts to position one’s self.  This is an attempt to insure an outcome that benefits them and reduces their liability.  Who doesn’t do that?  Pretty much everyone, which is the problem.  It is anathema to the meek and humble.  Maybe a quick test will serve us well… When something comes up, do you immediately ration out what should take place next?  Do you come up with several options, even boil them down to only one possible idea?  Yes we do. But, what happened with that?  We took ownership of the idea, we stressed, we put time into it, and therefore we’ll defend it.  Is that spiritual discernment?  No— it’s the opposite.  Did you first stop to ask the Spirit what should happen?  You see spiritual discernment is faith.  Hebrews 11.6 says— “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

What does the Bible say about carnality?  Romans 8.6-7 says it is ‘death thinking’— ^“For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” It is not just ‘death thinking’— it is the enemy of God!  You see the opposite of faith isn’t fear… it’s carnality. 1 Corinthians 3.1-4 gives us an example of a church (Corinth) that was full of carnal thinking (envying, and strife, and divisions, comparisons, competitiveness).  Carnality has it’s roots in selfishness and pride.  ‘I have a better idea and I have a better way.’  Even if done in habit or innocence… it’s still the enemy of God.

This is the specific problem in this text… A family was working together, had a meeting, decided this is the right thing, then attempted to initiate that plan.  The plan:  manipulate and project, so as to position themselves.  They were worried about themselves, therefore carnal.  They were working a deal, therefore carnal.

Do you really want to think that way?  Do you really want something that is absent of life?  Jesus said in John 14.6— “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”  This verse is not just about salvation’s door, but a truth, that without Christ there is no life.  To think carnally is to make decisions and actions void of life.  It is death. Because it has ruled out Jesus from the decision making process.

What position does He have in your decision making process?

1. Is He completely in control?
2. Is He the managing partner?
3. Is He just a partner?
4. Is He an equal?
5. Is His opinion valued?
6. Is He at least consulted?
7. Is He even considered?

Notice the position Jesus takes lessens as the list increases in number.

Is He #1 on the list?  Where does He rank?  I would suggest asking yourselves this question in each and every area of your life… What position does He hold?