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Who can deny that we live in a time where there is a mega-fixation on me-mania; it’s all about “me.” Everybody wants to be number one, at the top of the heap, while all others are considered losers, beneathers, or wannabes. If we are not in the limelight where all eyes are focused on “me” then our exaggerated view of our own importance stands in jeopardy.
Is it possible that people can attend church without hauling that mental baggage in and out of the church every Sunday? Realistically, no, because of the great love affair with self. But wouldn’t it be great if people would bring their self-centeredness to church and leave it on the altar, walking out the door Christ-centered! Sadly, we have this addiction with “me,” and we are certainly not going to give it up easily or waste a national treasure! This is the theme of our culture, the-me. Well, enough about “me” how about you?
Are you obstinate and unwilling to deny or deprive the world of your meism, your love affair with putting your inflated ego first? Now, we’re not talking about the pursuit of excellence here or being the best that you can be, but the pride of position, mentally or physically, real or imaginative.
I read a little anecdote about Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990), former music director of the New York Philharmonic. He was asked, “What is the most difficult instrument to play?” He replied, “Second fiddle. I can get plenty of first violinists, but to find one to play second violin with as much enthusiasm or second French horn or second flute, now that’s a problem. And yet if no one plays second, we have no harmony.”
A hard nosed meist would respond, “Fiddlesticks!That’s not my problem.” Someone rightly observed that the problem with sin is the middle letter – “I.” We have become so full of self that there is no desire for anything else but feeding the ego or self-esteem.
Naturally, someone has to be number one and that would be Jesus. And in His kingdom there is only one first chair, it is called the throne of God; all others play second fiddle to His supremacy or sovereignty. John the Baptist recognized this – “He must increase, but I must decrease” (Jn 3:30). Most of us, however, hadn't picked up on his humility yet.
In our passage-gram, "preeminence" (Gk, proteuo) means “to be first, chief, to hold the first rank, highest dignity” (The Complete Word Study Dictionary, Zodhiates). I like the quotation of Alfred Mace,
“Christ cannot be second anywhere. He is ‘firstborn of every creature,’ because He has created everything (Col 1:15-16). He is also firstborn from the dead in connection with a redeemed and heavenly family. Thus creation and redemption hand the honors of supremacy to Him because of Who He is and of what He has done; ‘that in all things He might have the pre-eminence.’ He is first everywhere.” (Alfred Mace quotation, BBC on Col 1:18).
Ever hear a performance where someone hits a wrong note or sings off key. All attention is immediately focused on that dissonant note. Maybe, just maybe the world cannot see Jesus in us because of all the distracting notes in our lives; too many believers are only interested in playing first chair or going solo. Few are willing to play second fiddle to the sheet music of Scripture.
We all need to go solo; so-low nobody sees us but Christ because He is high and lifted up in our lives. We will never be in harmony as long as Christ does not have the preeminence in our life. Do we put Him first, or is it really all about “me?” <><
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We all need to go solo; so-low nobody sees us but Christ because He is high and lifted up in our lives. We will never be in harmony as long as Christ does not have the preeminence in our life. Do we put Him first, or is it really all about “me?” <><
