Playing Second Fiddle

There is a football game on tomorrow. Surprise! I'm looking forward to it, because I sure missed a lot of bowl games and a lot of playoff games from being out of the country, and I was finding out over the internet after the fact what happened. But when you think of the Super Bowl, amazingly number 50, and it's frightening because I remember number one, it's the climax of the year.

When you think of the Super Bowls, I think back to some of those earliest years, and actually before there even were Super Bowls. One of the greatest coaches of that era was Vince Lombardi. Everybody knows the name Vince Lombardi. Well, I shouldn't say everyone. He died probably about 1970, so he's been gone a long time, but he was one of the real elite of the elite. He was credited as having made the statement that winning isn't everything, it is the only thing, and he had great success in driving his teams through the bulk of the 60s, the Green Bay Packers. We live in a culture that acknowledges, praises, glorifies being number one. We see that across the board of society, the top Olympic athletes, Michael Phelps with all of his gold medals, the best of the best, at least at that time. And some of us can remember when Mark Spitz had all of those gold medals.

We have praised the greatest generals, the great warriors. We place high on a pedestal those who reach the top of the corporate ladder, oftentimes by climbing over a lot of people on their way to get there, striving to become number one. We applaud the winner of the Masters Golf Tournament, one who gets the green jacket. We applaud the men, the women, the man and the woman who won the Wimbledon tennis tournament from year to year. But we live in a society also that takes a negative view sometimes of those who are in a deferential role, that they're happy playing number two.

They defer to those above them. I remember when George H.W. Bush, Bush 41, you may know him as, when he was Vice President for eight years, he simply quietly went around and I thought, as a real class act, quietly, supportively and unobtrusively served in his role as the number two elected office in the country. He was number one in the line of presidential succession.

And thankfully, when Mr. Reagan was shot, he did not have to take the reins of the country at that time. We see in companies, those who fight for, campaign for, those who jockey for position and advancement because they want to be number one. That's just a part of our society. And there seems to be something wired within us as humans to resist being happy in a deferential support type of a role. Now, we've had this in the Church of God. A few weeks ago, far away, I gave a sermon contrasting the fact that there is a way of pride and there is a way of humility. And the one leads to absolute destruction. And the other one ultimately will lead to eternal life and the family of God. But it is a difficult path to walk. So challenging. There is this innate resistance within us. Within the Church, I've seen individuals. I remember being thoroughly shot. Denise and I were thoroughly shot not long after I was ordained as a local church elder when I was too young, too young. But we became to realize that we were assisting a man in an area who was very frustrated because as he looked at the church at that time, at the end of the 70s, he looked at the church and he recognized that he was not going to go any further up the ladder. He was always just going to be a church pastor. I still don't know what's wrong with that. What's wrong with that?

What an honor that is. And of course, it wasn't long that he was gone from the church, gone from the ministry, never to be seen or heard from again. Leonard Bernstein is a name we may remember. Musician, director, composer, author. At one point, he was asked, which instrument is the most difficult to play? And after the briefest pause, his answer was the second fiddle.

Then he said, I can get plenty of first violinists, but to find someone who can play the second fiddle with enthusiasm, that is a problem. And if we have no second fiddle, we have no harmony in the orchestra. I want to use that as the title, playing second fiddle.

There is a saying that you may be familiar with that's based on Bernstein's statement. The hardest instrument to play is second fiddle, because that refers to the fact that someone is in the first chair, and the one playing second has to defer to and follow the lead of that other person. And you know, we've been given in calling. We have been called to assist, to serve, to support, to share. And the role of number one, if we can put it that way, has been taken for eternity.

And frankly, the role of number two has been taken for eternity.

And we're coming along, and we're to be a part of the family of God.

And serving and sharing is something we're to find the greatest fulfillment in doing. And yet, the society around us seems to teach people, don't be happy! Climb up over other people!

Promote yourself! Teach your way if you have to, to get to the top.

So I want to look at that topic with you, because once upon a time there was a being who was in a deferential role, and he wanted to become number one. I listened to Mr. Gary Bean's sermon from Last Sabbath. I was amazed how we both were thinking along some of the same lines, but approaching it from completely different points of view. But he took you to Isaiah 14, to the five I Will statements of Satan. I will be like the Most High, which I think is a way of saying, I want God's job. We know from piecing that together with other places, such as Ezekiel 28, that it mentioned this king of Tyre, who was typical of this Hallel, this Lucifer, this Satan, as we know him today, that he was perfect in all his ways from the day he was created.

And it mentioned him being a covering carob. And as you recall, with the blueprint of the Ark of the Covenant, that Moses was given in Exodus 25 and around, the lid on the Ark of the Covenant had the mercy seat, and there were to be these two gold carob beams with wings overshadowing. And so when Lucifer was referred to as having been one of those covering carobs, he had been in the position for who knows how long of being right there at God's throne, probably saw it all and heard it all. And somewhere down the line, as Ezekiel 28 says, we're so familiar with that, till iniquity was found in you, and you were lifted up.

And sin entered the universe by a thought and then an act of pride. Of pride. We don't need to go back and rehearse so much of that in the beginning.

We know there was the Word, the Word is with God, the Word was God. You had the two.

And then we find the angelic sons were created. We don't have the time frame. We probably couldn't understand it anyhow. But God created the angelic host to be a part of His family, created sons. They were here, Job tells us, Job states, or rather God states to Job, and Job, it would be 38 verse 7, the morning stars, stars many places represent angels in the Bible. The morning stars shouted for joy at the creation of the universe. So they were around before all that is seen through the Hubble telescope came into existence. And somewhere after that point, this rebellion took place. We had one who wanted to become number one. And he rebelled against God. And he was, well, when Jesus walked the earth at one point, he said, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. He was cast back down. And he has been restrained here, except as God, like Job 1, Job 2 may give him access to come appear before him. He reached the point where he was no longer happy serving in a support role.

He could no longer defer. Some of you, like me, you can look back across years and years, several decades now, of the Church of God. We realize the Church is not exempt from those types of problems. So many times we have had those who have been regional directors of this, those who have been executive vice president. I remember the time when Mr. Herbert Armstrong said, I'm just going to abolish the role of executive vice president because so many of them, the position went to their head. And it just was not worth it. So we did away with it.

So many in that role, assisting whoever was the human head, so many, Satan got to them, and began taking them down the other path. Now, if we could compare the path of Satan, the way that he went, let's also consider the Son of God who came, the Word who was made flesh and dwelt among men, as John 1 tells us. He was here. He was. He remains to this day in a deferential role. He defers to his father. Even as a child, the story when he was 12, and the family was down at the Holy Days, and they left, and they realized on the way back, probably a sizable group of people heading back north together, and they realized our 12-year-old son is in here. And when they found him astounding, the great teachers at Jerusalem, he said to them, I have to be about my father's business. He was respectful to his fleshly parents, but he had to be about the business of his father in heaven.

Let's turn to John 5. Notice, survey a few statements here in John about the role of Jesus Christ once His ministry began. John 5. And notice verse 19.

Then Jesus answered and said to them, Most assuredly I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself but what He sees the Father do. For whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.

He stated from early in His ministry, I'm here to do what my Father does.

I don't speak my own words. I don't make my own plans. In fact, in the next chapter, He says, I don't call anyone. That's not my role. John 6 verse 44. No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws Him and I will raise Him at the last day. Jesus couldn't even decide to extend an invitation to someone. The Father is the one who makes that determination. And He was perfectly supportive of that and happy doing so. In John 6 verse 57, as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so He who feeds on me will live because of me. So He gave mention of the fact that the Father sent Him and that He as well has life because of and through the essence of the Father. John 8, John 8 verses 28 and 29. John 8 verse 28. Then Jesus said to them, when you lift up the Son of Man, referring to the manner in which His ministry would end, where He would be crucified and lifted up on a tree, a cross, then you will know that I am He and that I do nothing of myself. But as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I will always do those things that please Him. And even that Passover, as He prayed, He prayed to His Father, I have finished the work You gave Me to accomplish. His role was all about playing second fiddle. It was all about deferring to the preeminent position of the Father. It was all about speaking His Father's words. Now, we live in a society. I mean, you think of some of the great sports contests that have taken place, some of the great tennis games or world series and baseball, whatever your particular sport passion is, it comes to the climax, the championship, the final, the Super Bowl, whatever it's called, and one team or one person wins.

All of a sudden, the great hoopla, the popping, the world series, the popping of the corks, of the champagne pouring it all over each other's head, the formal giving of the final award to that team. And you know, sometimes we forget that it's just a ballgame. But immediately, it's like whoever lost that final match at Wimbledon, whoever missed the last putt at the Masters, all of a sudden, it's like they don't count. They just fade off into the setting sun. And the focus is upon the Super Bowl champion. I think, as I assess some of that, I think that Satan probably tries to hardwire us that way. To get us to thinking that we can't be satisfied with just being serving, giving, sharing, loving people. And that's what it's all about. The wave of the future is the place second fiddle throughout eternity with the family of God.

You look at the role Christ has. He willingly played second fiddle. And apparently, it's not all that bad. Let's go on to the next book, Acts 3. This is after His ascension back to heaven, after the Spirit of God has been poured out on that little group gathered on Pentecost.

Acts 3, Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And here was a story of the man who was lame from his mother's womb.

And in verse 3, he expected to get a handout. This is how he survived, sitting in a prominent place being given a little bit here, a little bit there.

But in verse 4, fixing his eyes on him with Peter, or with John, Peter said, look at us. And so he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. Then Peter said, silver and gold, I do not have, but what I do have, I give you, in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk. In the name of this secondary role, rise up and walk. Chapter 4. Chapter 4.

Verse 10.

Chapter 4 of Acts, verse 10. Let it be known to you all and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified by Him, this man stands here before you whole. And that adds to that what is said in verse 12. That there is salvation, nor is there salvation any other, for there is no name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. We could go on through the book of Acts, and when Paul, there was this woman following him around, had a spirit of divination. It was a demon speaking. These men are the servants of the Most High, and he finally had enough of it, and he turned and he said, in the name of Jesus Christ, come out of her. All of that in the name of the One who made Himself of no reputation, took on the form of a servant, came and lived a perfect life and gave His life for us to live for our all eternity. Now, the problem is for us that we have something hardwired in us to resist being happy as a servant. How many times is the word servant used? It is used over and over and over and over throughout the New Testament. The Greek word doulos translated bonslave and some translations serve in others. What a marvelous honor it is! As Paul would start, Paul would open his epistles and he would oftentimes, especially his prison epistles, he would say Paul, a bonslave of Jesus Christ. And when Christ was here on the earth, many times the disciples argued about who was going to be greatest, who's going to have the left hand, the right hand. They were jockeying for position. They were concerned about things they didn't need to worry about. And he said, he who will be great, let him be your servant. So we're a part of a society that is hardwired against our being happy. You know, one of the Psalms, I didn't look it up, 84-74, one of those David and one point just said, I'd just like to be the doorkeeper of the house of God. What a, what a, I mean, think of the Congress of the U.S. and for so many years in my lifetime, when it come time for the president to come address, it was the same voice. Mr. Speaker, the president of the United States. And I think of that. He just opened the door and announced. That's all he did. What's wrong with that? Well, the world would tell us, the world around us would tell us, you need to keep climbing, go up higher, go up further. We have to look at our motivation for living. We have to examine ourselves. We heard a scripture that referred to that earlier in the sermon at. We have to look at our life, look across the board, the spectrum. We all have a work life, our career, our employment. We have to take a long, hard look at that. Let's go to Ephesians chapter 6. Because in one of those prison epistles, Paul wrote to some who literally were slaves in that day and age. Ephesians 6, and let's begin in verse 5. But I say slaves, bondservants is the term used in the New King James. But it gives us a principle. Because we all, when we work, we work ultimately for God. We go to whatever business it may be, but ultimately we work for God. Because through that job, through that work, he's striving to develop character within us. Verse 5, bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh with fear and trembling and sincerity of heart as to Christ. Applying this to our work, we serve ultimately Christ. Not with eye service as men pleasers. And yes, we've all had jobs where we look and we see those who are trying to climb the ladder.

They're trying to look good when the supervisor, the foreman, the boss of whatever name is around, and they suddenly want to be Johnny on the spot and just really look good. Or take credit for something that maybe they had very little to do with. But as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, willingly do this from the heart with goodwill, doing service as to the Lord and not the men. Well, it goes on and speaks to the masters. We say this would apply to the employer, and some here probably are in a position of having oversight of others. You masters do the same things as them. Give up threatening. Treat them with love and respect and consideration. Knowing that your own master also is in heaven, and there's no partiality with him. And so there should be no partiality with us. We have our work life. We have our church life. We come into a family. At one point when Christ, when His mother and siblings were outside asking for Him, and Jesus said, you know, His disciples, these are my brethren. There's a tie, the Spirit of God, that binds us firmly together. Sometimes more firmly than blood ties, although we need to maintain and hold fast to those blood ties as well. But there's a tie that binds, called the Spirit of God. Once in a while, maybe that's an understatement. I think on a very regular basis within the body of Christ, within our church world, we have those who prove themselves unwilling to just simply be at peace. Serving, giving, sharing. What's wrong with opening up or staying late and cleaning up, setting a hall back up? Nothing! It's a wonderful service. Once in a while, back across the years, you see some who are, I used to hear the phrase, well, He's bucking for deacon, or He's bucking for elder. And, you know, church pastors haven't been exempt from that either. Back when, you know, I was so glad in the United Church of God, we walked away from ordination to these various ranks of minister. I remember a leader in the church at that time said, you know, frankly, rank stinks.

But to go from local elder to preaching elder to pastor to evangelist, and there were some so concerned about what their rank was, I was so happy to walk away from all of that.

But yes, back when we hadn't been married very long, we had a man who was our pastor, beloved pastor. And he opened up in a public forum about his frustrations about the church and about how he'd never go anywhere further. And it was sad. It was heartbreaking to hear and to see him just go marching on out and away. 1 Corinthians 12. 1 Corinthians 12, verse 18. 1 Timothy 14, verse 18. 2 Timothy 13, verse 18. Some have campaigned for the role of pastor, some have played politics for an ordination, but God tells everyone of us our motivation must be to serve and to give.

We are also cautioned, the apostle James told us, brethren, be not many masters for you receive a greater condemnation.

Excuse me. There's an accountability that comes with a service. And God help us to be faithful to that. But we know they all have not been able to be. 1 Corinthians 12, verse 18. But now, God has set the members, every one of them, in the body, just as He pleased. Sometimes we forget that. God places us where He wants. The verses above and the verses that follow. He uses the analogy of the body. Some are like the eye, some are like the foot, some are like... We have a need for people in all roles. And as we work together, there's a beautiful harmony. It's been a lot of years now. It was right at the end. It was December 1979. A movie came out. We chose to go see it. Kramer versus Kramer. You know, the story about a divorce was not very pleasant. But it had some interesting parts. But to me, in looking back, the most interesting thing was that Dustin Hoffman was given Best Actor Award. Meryl Streep. I didn't know who Meryl Streep is. What a phenomenal career she has had. But that was, I think, where we were first introduced to her. And she received the Best Supporting Actress role. And in receiving it, she made this statement. She said, there can be no higher honor than to enhance the performance of a fellow artist to make him look good. I like that. I like that. There is no room for self-appointed leaders. We're called to be a part of a team. Luke 14.

Luke 14.

Beginning in verse 7. So he told a parable to those who were invited, when he noted how they chose the best places, saying to them, When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in the best place, lest one more honorable than you be invited by him. And he who invited you and him come and say, Do you give place to this man? And then you begin with shame to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go sit down in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you come, he may say to you, Friend, go up higher. Then you will have glory in the presence of those who sit at the table with you, for whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. Yes, the path of pride always leads to destruction. The path of humility in the end, in God's due time, will lead to glory, will lead to eternity.

A part of our life is also our family. I used to hear it said a lot that in the church, the number one problem we have is in our marriages. I used to get tired of hearing that, but I guess I had to agree with it a lot of times, too. It was sad. We have roles within a marriage. Don't shoot the messenger. I didn't write it. Christ is the head of the man.

The man is to be the head of the wife. Let's go to Ephesians 5, where Paul, the old single man, had a certain amount of wisdom to share with us on the topic of marriage. And when we go to Ephesians 5, I think we'd be remiss if we don't always start in verse 21. Submitting one to another in the fear of God.

And I think, fellas, we need to remember that. We submit to our wives. You know, on occasion, she's right. I'm saying that a little bit tongue-in-cheek. I'm taking a step or two out on two rather thin ice. But she is right so often, and we need to be humble enough to realize that and to submit.

Wives, submit to your own husbands as to the Lord. Now, the problem is, he doesn't always act like the Lord. At least, that's been her experience. He doesn't always act like the Lord. But we submit as unto the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church and Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let wives be to their own husbands and everything.

Husbands, love your wives. That's a mouthful. Because a lot of times, we don't have a clue how to do that. We are placed in a position of responsibility, I think, of a greater accountability to God. And we're told, love your wife. Place her high on a pedestal. Love her with all of your heart.

Help her achieve goals that she has. Just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her. That's a mouthful too. Because Christ died for His church, so that she could live for eternity. For we as husbands, willing to take the deferential role to serve, to share, to love our wife, to help her toward eternal life.

Because Peter wrote that we are heirs together of the grace of life. Well, we could go on with marriage, but a part of family is also children. We have children that grow up and they reach an age where the funniest things start surging through their blood vessels. These hormones start testing the boundaries. And yes, we want to train them to move from complete dependence until the day comes when they can live independently from the family. But they can...

well, I've described the parenting years. I look back at one phase and I just say, you know, it felt like I stood there and took a six-year beating. And then wisdom came a little later. About the time we're fit to become parents, they're flying out of the nest. But it did feel like I just stood there and took a beating and got run over many, many times and made so many mistakes.

But probably, I think they would say I did a lot better than I tend to think that I did. But we have children. And God has placed us together as a married couple to train. We are in a primary role to our children. And the day may come when they're 17 and 6 feet 3 inches tall and 240 pounds. And they'd better listen to their little mother. I remember... it's been a lot of years now, but again, many of you who have followed professional basketball will remember David Robinson. He played for a lot of years for the San Antonio Spurs.

He was being interviewed one time. And as I remember, he was either 7 feet or 7'1". Tall! And the one interviewing him asked him, well, how tall was your father? And I think his answer was, oh, dad was 6'6". And the interviewer said, oh, you really outgrew your dad. And David Robinson said, oh, no, sir. You're never bigger than your daddy. And I thought, you know, there's a lot to that statement. I like that. You're never bigger than your daddy.

But as they grow, they'll test leadership, and we have the responsibility to train up a child on the way he should go. So that when he's old, he'll remember those things. And hopefully, as a part of our training, we're teaching them, you don't have to be number one. Getting in there and getting your hands dirty and serving and sharing and doing for the greater good of the whole is more important than just always being on the receiving end.

And if somehow we can teach them that, then it's money in the bank for their life. And we should be very careful what kind of example we set for them at home. We also have to consider how we interface with society around us. Because each of us, we are citizens of the United States of America. And I hope we thank God for that. There are a lot of places that do not have the freedoms. We see an assault on our freedoms.

Yeah, well, just travel somewhere else. Denise and I remember in our years, we were in Lubbock, Texas, and Harold Jackson, Harold and Helen Jackson, he was one of the old, long-time evangelists. They came from Pasadena for a church visit to visit Roswell and then Lubbock. And in talking with them over that weekend, at one point they said, you know, every American needs to go to a third world country and live for three months. Three months! And find out what it's like to turn on a tap and you don't have any water that day.

Or the power goes out. Or, I mean, on and on. We are a spoiled people. We really are.

But we should be so thankful to be a part of this. But we have laws. Let's go to Titus 3, verse 1. There are several places where Paul or Peter also addresses the fact that we are to be subject to the powers that be. God set them in place. They are here, He told the church at Rome, they're here to watch for our souls. Sometimes they may chastise us. Once in a while, I've met people in the church where they, you know, I'm going to get around paying my taxes. Well, good luck! I'll come visit you. But the principle behind taxation, the principle behind it is a good one. To take care of the needs of society. But the problem is, when it gets down to actually paying for it and avoiding the waste. But Titus 3, verse 1, remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities. To obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, etc. We're citizens of a country. Sometimes we may flinch it, the laws that man passes. But as citizens, we're subject to those laws. Now, in thinking about this theme of playing second fiddle, there are so many good and so well, a lot more, not so good examples that we could refer to. I think we can just address, just mention some names. Of course, why not back to the beginning? Adam and Eve.

They had been given instructions, but they felt we have the right to take the very best. We have the right to take that which God says we can't have. A fruit to be desired. Cane. The next generation. There obviously were instructions given. Abel's was accepted and honored. It came from the flock because it was a bloody sacrifice, which speaks of the fact that he recognized, I have sinned and I need forgiveness. It was the beginning of this concept of a substitutionary sacrifice that would ultimately lead to the Lamb of God being sacrificed for the sins of humanity. But cane brought from the produce of the field. That was a thank offering. There was no concept that I need to have my sins forgiven to be able to have a relationship with God.

We have Aaron and Miriam. Sometimes they were a good example, but it seems like more so not as good. Yes, Numbers 12, they spoke against Moses because of his marrying of an Ethiopian woman. And God did not have one thing to say about that marriage, but He had lots to say about the attitude. And they paid a price. But they said, has God not also spoken through us? What about the great rebellion there of Korah, Dathan and Abiram and all that they got caught up in that movement? Was it? I think it was 250 of the elders of Israel. All got caught up in this movement. God has not just spoken through you, but what about us? Same old attitude. An unhappiness, an enhance and unwillingness to be pleased to just do our part of the team.

And a desire is bred to try to take the glory to self. Judas. Judas is an interesting study. We're given bits and pieces. There's a lot that's lacking, but we can ponder his example. Somewhere down the line, and we know there was one prophesied who was to betray him, but somewhere along the line, whether it was carrying the money, that apparently was a problem for him. He was concerned about where the money went and how much was spent sometimes. But anyhow, we have to be faithful stewards of money, especially when it's God's money. But Judas turned down that dark path. John, late in the first century, John wrote about this diatrophies at this unnamed church where he would send representatives, and they would not receive John's representatives, and this diatrophies who would be prating these malicious words. He loved the preeminence among them, John said. And Paul, before his last letter, he talked about Demas as forsaking me for love of this present evil world. Something got to him. We can only pray that before he died, he changed, and maybe snapped out of it. We have good examples. We have what I think of would be Jonathan. Saul was king. This was when it was from father to son. Jonathan, Israel would have expected he would have been the next leader. And what an honorable man he was.

What an honorable man. But because of the sins of his father Saul, that kingly line was going to end. And David, Samuel, to the household of Jesse, and the little son out in keeping the flocks, was anointed to become the next king. Jonathan understood. My father's kingship will not come to me. He assured David it will go to you. I think God can use Jonathan in a marvelous way in the kingdom. And David himself, I forget how many years it was, he was anointed to become king, but he was not yet king. It was a long wait. And there were opportunities, and the classic one, when he and the men were in the cave, and Saul came in to do his thing, and he was being encouraged to take his life. They were even saying, God has delivered him into your hand. But David said, I can't lift my hand against God's anointed.

And David, as we know, will be king over Israel in the millennium. And he'll be happy working for Christ over Israel. Happy to be, number two, playing second fiddle, doing what Christ tells him to do. Let's go to John chapter 3, because another example that comes to mind is that of John the Baptist, the older cousin of Jesus. The one whose work started first, but from the outset he knew I am preparing the way for he who will come after me. And early on in Christ's ministry, he realized, I've got a decrease. John 3 verse 26, and they came to John and said to him, Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified, behold, he is baptizing, and all are coming to him. John answered and said, A man can receive nothing unless it is given to him from heaven. Verse 28, you yourselves bear witness that I said, I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him. I am not the Christos, the anointed one. I am not the one to come in that primary role, but I am sent to pave the way. He who has the bride is the bridegroom, but the friend of the bridegroom who stands and hears him rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. Therefore, this joy of mine is fulfilled. He recognized the one I've been paving the way for has now come on the scene. He must increase, but I must decrease. And God help us if we ever reach a place in life, in whatever facet of life, where we can't be happy just taking a step back and letting someone else whom God calls take the primary role. That's just a part of life. A time comes to step back and let others do. A time comes to decrease. We live in a society that continues preaching the mantra of you've got to be number one. But we serve a God who says, He that will be greatest, let him be your servant. There is this innate resistance to playing second fiddle. And we're talking here today about pride. Pride, vanity, the way of get for self. Sin entered the universe by one thought of pride, and the rest followed. And sin entered the human family by one thought of vanity. That tree will give me power.

Let's close over in 2 Corinthians 5.

2 Corinthians 5.

And let's read verse 20. That our job is to be ambassadors for Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 5 verse 20. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ. As though God were pleading through us, we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. Ambassadors for Christ. An ambassador has to know how to play second fiddle well. He represents His home country. To another country that may be somewhat near and it may be somewhere far across the world. He presents what He has given. He doesn't set policy. In the church, He doesn't make doctrine. We are to teach as we are taught. And we step onto the thinnest of ice if we start going out there trying to bring a following after ourselves.

The ambassador must fiercely support and uphold the policies of his government. We are called ambassadors for Jesus Christ. We are also called the salt of the earth that is to go out and permeate society and make it taste a little more palatable. We are to be fulfilling roles that involve learning to happily play the most difficult of all instruments. And that is second fiddle. And playing second fiddle is a metaphor for walking the path of humility.