But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. Sitting down, Jesus spoke to them and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all."
Mark 9:33-35
Jesus goes on to talk about welcoming children and "outsiders"(who were actually insiders according to Jesus), and then He talks about causing "these" to sin. I think He means leading others astray by inaccurate teaching about their value and worth in God's eyes. Most, including the disciples, had disregard for their pure hearts just because they weren't seen as important in society and even among religious people.
How does this happen? How do we overlook those who are so valuable in God's eyes? By trying to get ahead. By reaching for greatness, walking toward prestige, and having the wrong focus. (Mark 9:42-47)
Jesus finishes by talking about salt and being at peace with one another. (49-50) Salt is a symbol of the covenant--God's grace, love, and faithfulness. And this is what we should be reaching out for and walking toward and seeking to receive. To receive God's love brings peace, for ourselves and with others, not striving to be first--even through servanthood. If the motive for servanthood is to get ahead, it's not any better than trying to get there through dishonest means and probably more exhausting.
A true attitude of servanthood, one that welcomes and accepts others for who they are and where they're at--this comes from allowing God to first serve me.
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