Jesus emphasized that “the first shall be last” to highlight the importance of humility and service over wealth and status. His teachings challenged the social norms of His time, in which status and power were often regarded as indicators of spiritual worth. He urged the wealthy and powerful to surrender their earthly possessions and follow Him, stressing that true value comes from a heart aligned with God’s will and love. This principle is illustrated in the parable of the workers in the vineyard (Matthew 20:1–16). The first workers were rewarded last, just as those hired later were. The power of redemption is inseparable from humility.
Jesus’ mission is to redeem humanity unconditionally. Those who are called are freed from worldly troubles, even if they face unprecedented persecution. The question is whether there is an advantage to being called now rather than later. People tend to prefer positions of superiority over lesser roles, because power often feels more appealing than servitude. Humanity’s redemption involves confronting pride, and positions of authority can be just as dangerous as clinging to pride instead of embracing humility. Jesus is Lord, yet He gave His life for a sinful humanity.
“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth” (Philippians 2:5–10 RSV).
Church leadership can become dangerous when it wrongly places certain individuals in Christ’s position. Jesus accomplished the task of delivering humanity from sin by deflating pride. The marvelous work of God is graciously administered, calling each person at the right time. Spiritual gifts are granted according to God’s understanding of different personalities. Since all humans are created in God’s image, they should not be separated from their divine nature. True love signifies that no person should be looked down upon, and it may also be necessary to discourage those who seek positions of seniority in God’s Church.
The Twelve were not chosen because of their strength or knowledge, especially not when compared with the more educated religious leaders in Jerusalem. In Matthew 20:1–16, Jesus presented a parable with a lesson on humility. A group of laborers was hired early in the day, followed by others called at different times until the end of the day. The last group, who came late, was promised the same pay as those who had worked from morning. When it was time to pay, the master chose to reward the last group first, which appeared unfair to those who had worked all day.
Those who had toiled since morning expected to be compensated ahead of the newcomers, believing they deserved it because of their longer hours. This approach violated conventional business practices, in which laborers are rewarded according to their contributions. Organizations that treat employees this way risk losing experienced staff. The parable does not suggest how employees should be compensated; rather, it aims to reveal the secrets of God’s Kingdom. There are three reasons for administering the labor force in the manner described in this parable.
The first reason is that being hired first is more a privilege than an indicator of fair treatment in employment. Sacrificing one’s life for the sake of God’s Kingdom brings freedom and the privilege of being on the same level as Jesus and the apostles. Few people appreciate the significance of Christianity in this context. This is why Jesus advised rejoicing in the face of persecution (Matthew 5:10–12). After being flogged, the disciples rejoiced, considering it an honor to suffer for Jesus (Acts 5:41). Those who think that joining Christianity is doing God a favor are mistaken; they act like those who would be rejected at Jesus’ return (Matthew 7:21–23).
The second reason illustrates Jesus as the enabler. While the parable suggests that laborers deserve fair compensation, as contractually promised, it does not consider the seniority or experience of those called into Christianity ahead of others. The gift of the Holy Spirit means that a believer’s actions are God’s work, rather than their own. Experiencing physical discomfort pales in comparison with the gift of eternal life. Many fail to realize that those who despise God’s people are, in doing so, unwittingly despising God.
These individuals find joy in being used by God, as they are no longer anxious about worldly accolades. Although they face persecution, they consider it a blessing (Matthew 5:10–12). The third reason relates to the principle of humility. Christ’s mission focuses on diminishing all forms of pride among those He calls. This shows why Jesus consistently valued servitude over seniority, even demonstrating it through the humble act of washing feet.
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?” He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me” (Matthew 18:1–5 NIV).
From a human perspective, becoming a Christian may seem disadvantageous. It often involves relinquishing everything materially acquired throughout one’s life. Achieving a position of influence may require a significant reversal of priorities. To be part of God’s people necessitates surrendering everything, including the possibility of submitting to those one may have previously looked down upon.
While this world can be troublesome for many, God’s children perceive it differently. Although many fear physical death, God’s children tend to be more accepting of it than they are of mere survival. These individuals often learn to rejoice even in the face of persecution. Jesus emphasized prioritizing serving others rather than seeking to be served; however, this does not mean avoiding one’s own responsibilities.
Upholding the truth is a noble virtue, and Christians are expected to stand firm in their beliefs whenever possible. One should not feel intimidated by anything if they are genuinely opposing violations of godly standards. The character of true Christians mirrors that of David, who stood fearless against Goliath when even the most seasoned warriors retreated. Cowardice and true Christianity stand in stark contrast to one another.
“Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us, and His love is made complete in us. We know that we live in Him and He in us because He has given us the Spirit. We have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. Therefore, we know and rely on the love God has for us; God is love.”
“Whoever lives in love lives in God and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the Day of Judgment because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love” (1 John 4:11–18 NIV).
The most important lesson that Jesus taught and exemplified is a type of love that involves sacrificing one’s own interests for the sake of others. The passage reveals that God’s children are not merely servants. While a person may be seen as serving God, in reality, as long as they practice the same principles Jesus taught, they embody the essence of being God’s child. This understanding dispels the implications of the parable of the vineyard; the fact that God dwells within a person means that they are not separate from God.
This is why a true believer cannot be intimidated by anything. Furthermore, the scripture challenges the notion that Jesus is merely a member of the Trinity, with other members of God’s children being excluded. The concept of the Trinity is often created by those who idolize Jesus rather than apply His teachings. A fundamental requirement for becoming a follower of Christ is humility. Any gifts one may possess in serving God should ultimately reflect Christ living within them, as Paul indicated in Galatians 2:20. Induction into Christianity signifies the death of the physical self.
From this, a new creation emerges. This transformation may seem unimaginable to those who have not received grace. While the physical person engages in God’s work, the spiritual person becomes liberated and enters into God’s glory. As a result, the body becomes insignificant in the greater scheme of things. Expecting rewards for being a Christian disqualifies one from truly understanding the essence of Christianity.
The only path to true life is through confronting one’s deepest fears. Each person endowed with the Spirit should allow God’s Spirit to work within them. People tend to stick to the status quo because they want to avoid physical pain. When applied according to Jesus’ teachings, Christianity becomes the only source of true freedom.
Much of what is taught in mega-churches can be misleading, where Christianity is assumed to be intended to access physical blessings. Parables were not created for easy understanding by ordinary listeners. Those who have become God’s children possess a different understanding, as made clear by Jesus when He explained to His disciples why He preached in parables.
When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. He told them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside, everything is said in parables, so that ‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!’” (Mark 4:10–12 NIV).
At the start of His inaugural sermon, Jesus declared, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3 NIV). Without this as the foundation of true Christianity, any commitment to the faith is futile. His use of parables aimed to prevent the opposite of being poor in spirit. Attaining the righteousness of Jesus Christ requires crucifying the current body by surrendering all that attracts admiration.
The Prophet Jeremiah revealed what humans struggle to grasp: “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9 NIV). No physical person can escape having a deceitful heart beyond cure. Without God’s protection from premature access to the mysteries of His Kingdom, we risk condemnation when Satan corrupts us. The key realization is that no righteousness exists in physical humanity.
Even Jesus refused to associate Himself with goodness in His humanity (Mark 10:17–18). Without acknowledging humanity’s wickedness, inheriting the Kingdom is impossible, which is why Jesus used parables to conceal the mystery. According to Matthew 5:3, receiving the mysteries of God’s Kingdom requires embracing poverty of spirit, meaning humility. The Apostle Paul devoted Romans 6:1–14 to explaining the principle of crucifying the physical body to redeem the spiritual one. This confirms the truth that a true Christian is a new creation.
“Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
“For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings so that we may also share in his glory” (Romans 8:12–17 NIV).
To be considered a child of God, one must let go of the body’s desires to nurture the spirit. Holding on to sinful cravings of the flesh makes it impossible to truly embrace this new calling. The idea of being made last after being first is meant to strip away pride from humanity. Often, those most passionate in Christianity are driven by human ambitions that conflict with God’s nature. For example, Simon Peter’s actions nearly led him astray. At first glance, Peter’s zeal might seem to have pleased God, but in reality, it did not.
“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.” Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me” (Luke 22:31–34 NIV).
Simon Peter’s attitude has influenced many believers who strive to reach what others often miss. These individuals tend to appear more devoted to Christianity than others. When Jesus spoke of the first becoming last, He was emphasizing humility. Those chosen as God’s children have nothing of their own to boast about in their faith, and no reason to think themselves wiser or more intelligent than those not yet called.
That is why Jesus dismantled any ranking system among His disciples (Matthew 23:8–12), teaching them instead to wash one another’s feet (John 13:1–17) rather than seemingly promoting order through authoritarian structures. Contrary to popular belief, Ephesians 4:11 speaks of different gifts in God’s work, not hierarchical positions. The term “laymen” has no Scriptural foundation whatsoever.
Paul, in 2 Corinthians 12, stressed the value of weakness over impressive achievements. He explained that the Lord allowed a thorn in his flesh to remain, keeping him humble. It is Jesus who works within a true Christian, not the Christian earning praise for great accomplishments. Sometimes, when ministry efforts seem fruitless, it could be God deliberately holding back growth, caring more for the person than their results.
The Holy Spirit’s gift, making someone a child of God, is not something to boast about. True Christianity involves letting go of anything admired by the world. A doctorate in theology does not make one more acceptable than someone without formal education, and the reverse is also true. Educational level alone holds no weight in God’s eyes.
The concept of the first becoming last is seen in Adam being the first, while Jesus, the second Adam, takes the place of the first. Our human nature precedes our spiritual nature, which develops later but is valued more highly than the former. Jesus’ focus on being first applies to every aspect of humanity regarding salvation, which takes priority over our physical nature that came first. A mistake among people has been affirming what was condemned in the Garden of Eden. We do well to reject what God rejected before embracing the new life offered through Jesus.
Just as it is symbolically revealed in the story of Esau and Jacob, where Esau, the firstborn, forfeited his birthright because of physical appetite, the same applies to the Israelites. Having been offered the privilege of inheriting the Kingdom, they invalidated it because of the attractions of their sinful nature. In Romans 11:11-24, Paul describes Christianity as a way to reclaim sonship with God and notes that the Gentiles embraced it more than the original heirs, the Israelites. This truth applies to every aspect of life related to redemption, including the Western nations’ comfort in assuming superiority over non-Christian nations.
Andrew Masuku is the author of Dimensions of a New Civilisation, which lays out standards for lifting Zimbabwe out of its current economic depression and into a model for other nations worldwide. A decaying tree provides an opportunity for a blossoming sprout. Written from a Christian perspective, the book is a product of inspiration, offering relief to those who have witnessed the strings of unworkable solutions leading to the current economic and social decay. Most Zimbabweans should find the book to be a long-awaited providential oasis of hope, in a simple conversational tone.
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