Serve By Going First

So, I (Ashley) usually don’t blog my personal thoughts.  More about the things we are doing and what’s going on here.  But I was reminded of this thought recently, so I thought I would share.

I think I have discovered a phenomenon.  It usually occurs in gatherings of 6-15 people when they are eating a meal at someone’s home.  I like to call it the “No one wants to go first in line to get their food, lest they look selfish, rude, or even worse, hungry, so instead everyone stands close to the kitchen acting like they are interested in the conversations they are having, while really wondering if someone is ever going to start the line because they are getting hungry and the food is getting cold” phenomenon.  Ever experienced it?  I’m so aware of it now, I’ve come to enjoy watching this play itself out for at least a few minutes because it’s so entertaining.  Then I make a huge sacrifice.  I truly humble myself and decide I will serve my fellow mates by going first (sometimes even at my own house – gasp!)  You can almost hear the sighs of relief as the rest immediately fall in line.  There is absolutely no shame at all in going second or third.  And going last is almost honored as I’ve heard people say, “Oh, you had to get your food last.  Sorry about that.”  What they should have said is, “Oh no!  You are forced to take your first bite of food probably 6 minutes and 27 seconds after the first person takes their first bite!  You might starve!”  

Now don’t get me wrong.  I truly do understand the motivation of most people here.  Putting others first is, after all, a very biblical concept.  Paul writes in Philippians 2, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.  Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”   I’m hungry.  You’re hungry.  I’ll let you go first.  Perfectly sensible.  I get that.  Jesus also encourages us that, “Many who are first will be last, and the last first.”  But sometimes I think we can twist this verse to still be about us.  Person 1: “No, I insist.  You go first.” Person 2: “No really, you can go ahead.”  In this silly argument, both people are often subconsciously seeking the gratification of knowing that they put someone else first.  We think, “Scripture says if I go first then I’ll be last!” or “I’m not being a true servant by going first.”  But I think then we’ve actually lost of the concept of looking to the interests of others.  If that person’s true interest is to NOT go first, then why are we trying to force them to just so we can look more like a saint? 

Moments where going first can actually serve other people are very interesting to me.  Take the dreaded class speech or project presentation, for example.  Often the teacher will ask if anyone would like to go first, which is usually followed by silence and all eyes down because everyone knows that eye contact with a teacher means “Yes, please.  Pick me!”  The students are begging one of their peers to go first in their mind because they know that if the silence lasts too long the teacher will arbitrarily pick some unfortunate soul.  And then there’s me.  Crazy goofball me.  I always asked to go first!  Back in my school days, I had little concern for the relief I was supplying my friends who were so thankful that they didn’t have to be the dreaded, awful first.  I was really just thinking, “Hey let’s get this over with and how about before my teacher has a chance to compare my presentation with anyone else!”  Looking back though, going first often helps others out by taking a lot of the pressure off.  If we can change our mindset about situations like this, with small simple actions, we really can serve our brothers and sisters.  Be brave!  Be bold!  Be the crazy one to go first, look foolish, and potentially be embarrassed.  Then you can encourage others that the experience really wasn’t so bad and that they too will be just fine. 

Now please don’t take this concept to mean I’m suggesting that you should always go first.  With a personality and constantly moving jaw like mine, I’ve learned the hard way that I need to let others speak first, go first, or give their opinions before mine.  But in many situations, going first can be an act of obedience that God can use to serve those around you.  Think about all the things you are afraid of.  Think of all the potential failures you worry about.  Now think of a time when you were motivated to look past those things and try something new.  There’s a good chance that you saw someone else do it who didn’t fall flat on their face and you thought, “Hey, if they can do it, I can do it!”  Is God asking you to be the one to do it first to motivate someone else?  After all, someone always has to be first.  Why not you?  Ask God today how you can serve others by going first.  Write that book.  Make that move.  Apply for that job.  Do that crazy thing God has put on your heart.  And for the sake of all those wonderful home-cooked meals that are unnecessarily being eaten cold, go first!