“Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:4).
TEXT — Matthew 18:1-4
Message
Shortly after he took over as the President of Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, Booker T. Washington, was walking in an exclusive section of town when he was stopped by a wealthy white woman. Not knowing the famous Professor Washington by sight, she asked if he would like to earn a few dollars by chopping wood for her. Because he had no pressing business at the moment, Professor Washington smiled, rolled up his sleeves and proceeded to do the humble chore she had requested. When he finished, he carried the logs into the house and stacked them by the fireplace. A little girl recognised him and later revealed his identity to the lady.
The next morning the embarrassed woman went to see Professor Washington in his office at the Institute and apologised profusely. “It’s perfectly all right, Madam,” he replied. “Occasionally I enjoy a little manual labour. Besides, it’s always a delight to do something for a friend.” She shook his hand warmly and assured him that his meek and gracious attitude had endeared him and his work to her heart. Not long afterward she showed her admiration by persuading some wealthy acquaintances to join her in donating thousands of dollars to the Tuskegee Institute.
In the text, we are introduced to a recurring debate among the disciples: “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Thinking that their Master ’s messianic claim implied a temporal sovereignty and secular power, the disciples were looking forward to becoming dignitaries in this new Kingdom. In His response, Christ used a child to drive home the lesson. Children are teachable, unpretentious, submissive, willingly dependent on their parents and free from malice. Hence, their use as proper emblems of true Christianity.
True greatness is not in position, office, leadership, power, influence, fame, ability, great accomplishments or success. It is a matter of the inner life, involving a humble spirit and a pure heart.
As Christians, we should imbibe this meek and quiet spirit, which is of great price in the sight of God.
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.
Am blessed
Today teaching is really weighty
This inspired me so much