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Whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Mark 10:43-45

In the church library, there’s a trophy from back in 2016 when the Bethany softball team emerged victorious in the church league we’re a part of.  I wish I could report that there was a clutter of trophies crowding our bookshelf, but sadly the trophy has stood by itself these past five years. 

Maybe, like our softball team, you saw our theme for the week, Declutter Your Trophies, and thought to yourself, “that’s not really my problem!”  Maybe your glass display case stands empty, except for the participation ribbons you received from years ago. 

But this week isn’t so much about the physical trophies we have won (or not won as the case may be).  A piece of plastic, wood or metal molded into the shape of baseball player (or whatever victory you achieved) won’t get in the way of you loving God or loving your neighbor.  But the pride we place in our accomplishments might. 

James and John were competing for a trophy in our Gospel story for the week.  They wanted to have Jesus appoint them to the positions of sitting at Jesus’ left and right (traditional places of honor next to a King or head of household).  They wanted, of course to be lifted up above the others. 

Maybe they felt they earned it or perhaps it was merely the boneheaded squabbling of siblings that brought them to ask Jesus the question.  Whatever the case, Jesus wanted them to get rid of the notion altogether (declutter it!). 

Of course, we’re all guilty of that from time to time. Maybe you have literal trophies of those accomplishments at home, but for most of us, it’s more subtle.  We like to lift ourselves above those people … and imagine that we are more righteous or intelligent or even wise than they are. 

It is a phenomenon we see a lot in politics, but the truth is it’s everywhere.  I even see it in my kids when they race to be the first one to brush their teeth at night (which inevitably results in a squabble).  It’s everywhere, because that impulse is in us.

The good news is there is a simple solution.  Jesus suggests trying humility.  If you’re trying to outdo one another, then outdo one another in service.  Turn that energy towards loving your neighbor.  Do that and you will begin to live into the Kingdom of God.