{"id":1917,"date":"2010-04-29T09:24:31","date_gmt":"2010-04-29T15:24:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.jesusneedsnewpr.net\/?p=1917"},"modified":"2011-05-03T17:02:21","modified_gmt":"2011-05-03T17:02:21","slug":"i-want-to-be-first-i-want-to-be-last","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/jesusneedsnewpr\/2010\/04\/i-want-to-be-first-i-want-to-be-last.html","title":{"rendered":"I want to be first. I want to be last."},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

I want to be first.<\/p>\n

I WANT TO BE FIRST!<\/p>\n

I’m human after all. And American. “First” is a part of our culture. It’s in education, sports, career choices, and sometimes in church.<\/p>\n

But I want to be last, too. Because I’m a Christian. And I’m supposed to want to be last. Jesus said that, in his kingdom, the last shall be first. So naturally, I want to be last if that means I’ll be FIRST in Heaven.<\/p>\n

But I want to be first. I want just one of my books to sell a million copies. I want to stand in front of crowds of people and make them laugh. Sure, first can be stressful sometimes, but the perks are sweet. I’m typing on one of those perks right now.<\/p>\n

I WANT TO BE<\/p>\n

last.<\/p>\n

Because taking care of the poor is in style. Because I’m a blogger with more than average traffic! I can show you lot of pictures of what I look like “being last.” You like me better when I’m “last.” So I want to be last.<\/p>\n

BUT I WANT TO BE<\/p>\n

FIRST<\/strong>!<\/h1>\n

I mean, first.<\/p>\n

I want a huge Twitter following. I want popular friends. And I want to go to a church that people think is cool–at least, cooler than most churches. I want to be skinny and look good when I take my shirt off. I want nice clothes and a house that is bigger than the condo where I live now. I really want an iPad.<\/p>\n

Just kidding.<\/p>\n

I really want to be last. Seriously, I do. At the very least, I want to portray that I have a desire to be last. I don’t have cable television! That’s something. And my wife and I sponsor four kids through World Vision-they’re definitely further back in line than I am. So I think about the “last”–what it must be like for them to be last. It must suck.<\/p>\n

I WANT TO BE FIRST AT THINKING ABOUT THE LAST.<\/p>\n

That way, I can still be popular and yet “hang out” with the last. And people will look up to me for hanging out with the last! Because that’s what we Christians do; we want to hang out with the people who are hanging out with the “last.”<\/p>\n

Because they’re first.<\/p>\n

I don’t want to be last. Not really. Last is difficult and humbling. Just thinking about “last” makes me feel guilty about being first or wanting to be first.<\/p>\n

But I like the thought of being first. The thought of being last isn’t nearly as pleasant.<\/p>\n

Can I be first and dabble in last? Perhaps I should stand in the middle and complain about those in front of me about not helping those behind me.<\/p>\n

Or perhaps the tension is where I’m supposed to be. Cuz I’m not first. And I’m not last.<\/p>\n

BUT I KNOW PEOPLE WHO ARE! I could call them for you… Perhaps I can introduce you to them sometime…<\/p>\n

Interested?!<\/p>\n

Where in line are you? <\/strong><\/p>\n

**DISCLAIMER**<\/strong> I’m going with World Vision to the Dominican Republic next week to hang out with people that I know and hope will be first in line in the Kingdom of God. Please prayerfully consider helping a child. It’s only $35 a month. And no, sponsoring a kid won’t make you “last.” But “being last” is a journey. And sponsoring a child is a good step on that journey. Take a chance and help a child in need! Thank you for your consideration. CLICK HERE TO SPONSOR A CHILD.<\/a> **<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I want to be first. I WANT TO BE FIRST! I’m human after all. And American. “First” is a part of our culture. It’s in education, sports, career choices, and sometimes in church. But I want to be last, too. Because I’m a Christian. And I’m supposed to want to be last. Jesus said that,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":412,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[32,22],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1917","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-dominican-republic","category-world-vision"],"yoast_head":"\nI want to be first. 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