Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him. “What is it you want?” he asked. She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.”
Matthew 20:20-28 New International Version (NIV)
“Gushing Over”Yiddish “Kvelling”
“You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said to them. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” “We can,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.”
Matthew 20:22-23 (NIV)
When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Matthew 20:24-28 (NIV)
“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will las—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: love each other.”
John 15:16-17 (NIV)
Achievement… Measured by visible outcomes, metrics and results; produces recognition, status, distinction, awards, reputation; driven by accomplishment, performance and productivity; often triggers comparison and envy; rooted in control, effort and self-assertion; depends heavily on external validation; can inflate identity, giving a sense of worth tied to performance; can become addictive, creating a cycle of needing more to feel enough; often masks inner-poverty, while projecting outer strength; fades quickly, requiring constant renewal to sustain meaning.
Fruit… Measured by its effect on others over time, not by what was accomplished in the moment; produces life in other people (joy, peace, growth, healing), not just admiration; is relational at its core, blessing the community rather than elevating the individual; often unseen and difficult to quantify; flows out of character, especially graciousness, generosity and kindness; reduces envy and restlessness in others, inviting us to abide, not compare; is rooted in surrender, not control; comes from a life yielded rather than managing outcomes; endures beyond the moment and has lingering impact; is not dependent on recognition or attention; becomes clearer with time, often being most visible after we die.
- Jon Tyson
What about you? What are you living for? Wouldn’t you like to know the freedom of living with true humility and love, like Jesus did?