To Be Insignificant.

     On one occasion, Jesus' disciples asked Him who was the greatest in the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:1). No doubt they expected to hear Jesus praising human strength, accomplishment, or authority; all things that mankind looks at when he determines what true greatness consists of.
     Jesus set a child before them (Matthew 18:2) and said,

     "Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."
                                Matthew 18:3-4 NASB

     Look at the reaction of the disciples when people were bringing their babies to Jesus. The disciples rebuked them (Matthew 19:13, Mark 10:13, Luke 18:15). They had things to do that they considered more important. Jesus was too busy to bother with children. The truth was they considered these children insignificant compared to themselves.
     Take a long and honest look at the society we live in. I know that there are parents who love their children, there always have been those who cherish children, and always will be. However, look at how the world in general treats children.
     A vast number of parents are way too busy with jobs, entertainment, social media, and so on, to spend quality time with a child. How many times do you suppose a child is told to be quiet, don't bother me, I'm busy?How many children spend their days at daycare, and their nights with a babysitter because their parents are too busy unwinding from their stressful days? What about abortion? This child is not convenient so let's abort it. 
     Get the picture? Society has a way of making children insignificant, little in the eyes of adults who are too busy with "important" things.
     Jesus is making a point here. Lives filled with self importance, pride, our "rights", our agendas, will keep us out of His kingdom! The world runs around full of itself! Look at me, it's all about me, I want it my way! This is nothing but pride, and God resists such pride (James 4:6). 
     However, He gives grace to the humble. We need to become those insignificant children that the world despises. I say despise, because when we treat something as insignificant, something that does not count for much in our estimation, we despise that thing (Genesis 25:34).
     Jesus is saying that we have to lay down our rights, our plans, our ambitions, our pride. We must become insignificant in the eyes of the world, not caring what it thinks about us, or what we can gain from it. Nothing matters to us anymore but Jesus. This is the giving of ourselves to Him in brokenness and humility. We must loose our lives for His sake, and in so doing we will save them (Mark 8:35-36).