Vanity of Vanities

        How ironic it is for the wisest person who ever lived on earth to pronounce such statement as this. And how humbling it is for the four of us to see this statement posted in this mirror to make us put in our minds that we don’t need to be too much proud of what we have done, or where we were placed that day. I know these three girls will agree with me as they read this (with fingers crossed). Hehe.

Rather we remind ourselves that it is indeed a privilege to do what we are supposed to do that day. That makes us remember the reason why we have added our supply in this event. Our motivation is not to become famous, or letting other people tag us as one of the coolest as they see this (even though that thought can be unavoidable).

I can absolutely say that what we've done is one vanity of all vanities. Vainglorious to be exact. That can happen only and only if we had lost sight of the right motive and the true purpose why we’re there.

 Special thanks to: Becca Music Inc./SAVED Ministries.
Photo credits to: Ish Cocjin.

Taken at CCF Center, Ortigas, Pasig City. June 3, 2016

Starting from left:

Me, Ricka Raga, Ish Cocjin, and Najee Chua.

               Ish’s vain act of capturing as I reflected paved the way to address the reason why we were there. It is to become servants (like Jesus) and make Him be seen in us as we serve. And that in turn makes this vanity become significant.

              Sounds simple, right? But Solomon failed to get it when He exchanged his purpose to the things that he can gain from people and the world. We must not follow the same.

                I know that this will not be the last event that we will work together again as volunteers. We may be dispatched into different assignments in the next events but one thing is for sure, we will never let our true mission be dwindled away. We will see to it that we will be doing what we are doing for the Lord wherever we may be placed at. 

                And to those who are out there wondering if there’s this hope for you to be promoted in the posts that you want to reach, well, I have a good news for you. Yes. There is.

                The secret of it lies on faithfulness. And through it, God can promote you into those posts that you never imagined you will be doing but you will have because you remained faithful at what you do. Never belittle your humble beginnings. It will really lead you elsewhere.

                To wrap this up, do not become so driven by vain motivations. Keeping yourself in the right purpose defends you from the vain realities this life may throw at you. You wouldn’t want to become like Solomon who forgot his purpose, won’t you?

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“And I applied by heart and mind to seek and search out by [human] wisdom all human activity under heaven. It is a miserable business which God has given to the sons of man with which to be busied.”

                                                                                                 Ecclesiastes 1:13 (Amp)

Servants, Not Sovereigns

The background story of it is found at Mark 10:35-45 (take time to read it) when James and John, sons of Zebedee went to Jesus and ask Him if He may grant them to sit on his sides when He becomes glorified. All of the disciples were expecting that Jesus will overthrow the Roman government to replace it with His. And so these two wanted to secure their posts in the new kingdom if that happens. As the story develops, when the other ten heard it, they begin to become greatly displeased with James and John. After that, Jesus starts to illustrate an example of a picture of what it is that they’re expecting in their minds to see and began to expose the true motives of their self-seeking hearts.

And Jesus tells a sharp contrast of what He expects them to do. He said that those who want to be great must become a servant of all. A paradigm shift also transpired by telling them that even He (being the Son of Man) did not desired to be attended, but chose to give service, that He may put the toll on Himself and make His action become a once-and-for-all effort for others. 

Why is it that the ten began to be displeased with the two? Was it because of the two’s bold request to assure a position so that they can be a master over them? Is it because of their greed/worry knowing that they don’t want to be left behind? Or wouldn’t it because of their yearnings for glory and recognition that is obviously conformed in a worldly perspective?

Whatever reason it may be, only one thing is for sure. They want to become sovereigns. They want to be something so that they can rule over everything. Who would want to take the low road? All of them want to elevate themselves because they are sick and tired being seen as little citizens of their country. Those who have regal positions and titles will be given due respect by everyone.

But being a servant? That have really blown up their minds. Didn’t it boggled your mind as well?

The world’s system has inculcated it over our minds that being a servant is the lowest rank that we can be engaged in life. Most of us want to reign. We don’t want to be on the side lines of life. We want to become rulers in life. We crave for superiority.

But Jesus didn’t made a mistake. He was proposing a different notion from theirs, from this world’s norm. True greatness in His standard is measured by how you give your life rather than what you’ve gained in life. It is quantified by how you have served others and not by how many people are serving you. It is not enumerated by the titles that the world may tag on you but by how you respond to others that brings impact to your world.

Jesus is encouraging His disciples not to pursue superiority and be attached on it to signify their worth that they tend forget to reach others but rather humility that opens the avenue to demonstrate His love by becoming a servant. Like Him who left His throne in the heavens for the sake of us. 

His message until now still remains for us. Life becomes definitive when we are defined by what we’re ruling of. But life becomes purposive when we become mandated by the One whom we’re serving of. God uses small tools to perform large tasks. And living for Him entails a calling to be servants, not sovereigns.