Someone
once asked Leonard Bernstein what was the most difficult instrument to play in
the orchestra. His answer, “Second fiddle.” We all get it—but think about
something even more difficult. What if one is asked to move from first fiddle
to second?
In
the listing of the priests and the Levites for the service in the temple we see
this inversion take place in the descendants of Moses and Aaron. Moses, the
great leader of Israel in bring them out of Egypt, was without question one of
the greatest men of the OT. Aaron, his brother, assisted him faithfully as they
faced Pharaoh and left Egypt and wandered in the wilderness. But now the place
of prominence is inverted. The sons of Aaron are to make offerings to the Lord
in the temple (23:13) but the sons of Levi (including Moses) are to be their
assistants (23:28, 32). I wonder if there were ever any jealousies that arose
because of their lineage.
So
it is today when we are asked to serve others. Is it possible that we might be
resentful thinking we deserve a higher standing? Or do we humble ourselves willingly
before the Lord and others for the glory of the Lord? “Do nothing from selfish
ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests
of others.” (Philippians 2:3-4)
Prayer:
Father, help us to have the mind of our Savior in being willing to lay aside
our privileges in order to serve others. Help us to honor you by the way we
serve, even in secondary places, out of the limelight, where no one else will
see. Thank you, Lord, for so many faithful servants who serve in this way
before you.
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