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What Is the Highest Position?
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A Kingdom of Different Principles
Christ was establishing a kingdom on different principles. He
called people not to authority, but to service, the strong to help the
infirmities of the weak. Power, position, talent, education, placed
those who possessed them under greater obligation to serve.
“The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and
to give His life a ransom for many.” The principle on which Christ
acted is to motivate the members of the church, His body. The
greatest ones in the kingdom of Christ are those who follow the
example He has given.
The words of Paul reveal the true dignity and honor of the Chris-
tian life: “Though I am free from all men, I have made myself a
servant to all,” “not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many,
that they may be saved.”
1 Corinthians 9:19
;
10:33
.
In matters of conscience, no one is to control another’s mind or
dictate his duty. God gives everyone freedom to think and to follow
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his own convictions. In matters where principle is involved, “let
each be fully convinced in his own mind.”
Romans 14:5
. The angels
of heaven do not come to earth to rule and to demand honor, but to
cooperate with men and women in uplifting humanity.
The principles and words of the Savior’s teaching lived in John’s
memory to his final days. The burden of his testimony was, “This is
the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love
one another. ... By this we know love, because He laid down His life
for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”
1
John 3:11, 16
.
This spirit characterized the early church. After the outpouring
of the Holy Spirit, “the multitude of those who believed were of one
heart and soul. ... And with great power the apostles gave witness to
the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.”
Acts 4:32, 33
.
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