"Playing Second Chair"

In Philippians chapter 2 Paul was telling those brethren about the mindset that they ought to adopt in their lives. In verse 6 the apostle declares that Jesus was the very form of God, however, when he came to earth he gave that up, not thinking that equality was God was something he had to hold onto. In verse 7 Paul writes "...but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness..."



Sitting in the second chair did not mean that this individual was worthless or simply not good. It just meant that second chair was what had been earned for that week. Even so, none of us ever voluntarily gave up the first chair!

I remember well…Runyon had played first chair for several months. No one even challenged his position. Everyone knew he was the best. His fame was known across the high school campus and the town. Crowds came consistently to "hear him play."

Then one day another player came on the scene. This player never made any mistakes, was always in tune, and knew every song. That was when Runyon did the unthinkable. He voluntarily relinquished his place. He did not ask for a playoff. He spoke incredible words: "He must become greater; I must become less."

I think most of us will agree that we, ourselves, occupy first chair in our own lives. In Matthew 16:24 Jesus said, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me." We are to let Him play "first chair" and we work under His great leadership.

The challenge for each one of us - will I move out of my place so that Jesus can sit in the first chair?

       


 

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