31st July , 2007

LLOYD HARKNESS

The kingdom of heaven, the kingdom Jesus was ushering in through His ministry, has at its core a set of values on the use of power and authority and what is significant and who is significant that rattles the cages of much of what today's kingdoms deem effective, appropriate and useful.

LOOKING FOR THE MOST HUMBLE: From the moment He started his public ministry, Jesus always had an eye for 'the least'. PICTURE: Irum Shahid (www.iStockphoto.com) "A focus on 'the least' is a characteristic of kingdom behaviour. Whatever we do for 'the least', such as feeding, clothing or tending the ill, we do for Jesus. We're to see people as Jesus sees them; the forgotten are to be remembered, the overlooked are to be seen and the unlovely are to be loved."

Central to this topsy-turvy understanding of God's kingdom is Jesus' comments on "the least".

For a start, anyone and everyone who is born (via a born again experience) into God's kingdom is in a far more privileged situation then even the greatest, and last, of the old covenant prophets, John the Baptist.

"The least," says Jesus, "the least, or the person lacking the most of everything including dignity and worth, is greater than John." (Luke 7:38. Matthew 11:11.)

The most humble, insignificant child of the 'children-are-to-be-seen-and-not-heard-as-they-are-still-nobody' category who is part of the new covenant, part of the church (the bride Jesus is returning for), is connected to and identified with something bigger than John, paving the way for Jesus.

John could only be the bridegroom's friend but the child who is a Jesus follower is part of the bride. (John 3:29)

So our starting point establishes the enormous privilege it is to be in the kingdom of God and the esteem Jesus holds for those who choose to follow Him.

God's kingdom is said to be like 'the least' of all seeds (mustard) with a future that belies its humble starting point; Jesus crucifixion and resurrection and the scattered rabble of disciples and followers. This seed will grow into a tree where birds (all people groups) will find rest (Matthew 13:32).

'The least' belong in 'the least' kingdom.

In this context, Jesus suggests adults should welcome children (Luke 9:48). This is an apt analogy for our heavenly Father welcoming us, 'the least'.

A focus on 'the least' is also a characteristic of kingdom behaviour. Whatever we do for 'the least', such as feeding, clothing or tending the ill, we do for Jesus. (Matthew 25:40,45) We're to see people as Jesus sees them; the forgotten are to be remembered, the overlooked are to be seen and the unlovely are to be loved.

Isaiah said the Messiah would not break the hurt and bruised nor disregard the small and insignificant (Isaiah 42:3). From the moment Jesus started His public ministry Jesus had an eye for 'the least'. Just consider who He encouraged to follow Him in those early days and who He was willing to eat with.

To see 'the least', you have to be embracive and generous in outlook. This ability to see comes from a grateful heart. Jesus said if we break 'the least' commandment and direct others to do so then we become 'the least' in the kingdom of heaven but if we practise 'the least' commandment and teach others to do so, we become great in the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:19). It's a simple extension of the 'what you sow you reap' principle, the starting point of which is to embrace Christ.

The problem Jesus was combating in this comment was the Pharisaic view on 'the least'. Being miserly in outlook, they approached the commandments looking for minimal requirements or seeking letter of the law clarifications which then often became a source of spiritual pride. They had their tick sheets whereby they could boast that they had done this and done that.

This legalistic mindset had somewhat frozen their response to God. Instead of responding in love to God's will for justice, mercy and faithfulness, they had become locked on tithing their spices, "mint, dill and cumin" (Matthew 23:23). Jesus didn't say this type of tithing was wrong. The issue was that it had simply become a substitute for true religion, for kingdom living.

Following the letter of the law can be quite good for self justification and explaining away and feeding pride. Jesus' way, the kingdom way, is more challenging and rewarding than any strict adherence to a legal system. It incorporates 'the least' - a tithe of mint - through to the greatest - exercising mercy and working for justice or, to reward this embracive grateful outlook with another of Jesus statements, the kingdom is about "loving your neighbour as yourself".

Being honest in the little or least things (Luke 16:10) should be a source of drawing closer to God rather than being a stumbling block.

Paul understood 'the least' principle. He understood how it applied to him. Because of his role in persecuting the church, he was the apostle most lacking in righteousness, yet the worth, the dignity, in which God held Paul so transformed his life that he became an apostle enabled by the Holy Spirit to preach Christ to the Gentiles (1 Corinthians 15:9. Ephesians 3:8.).

Grace changes our understanding of 'the least' whether we are talking about deeds, people or the kingdom of God itself. 'The least' is a key to the kingdom of God. It opens up a way of life missed by many.

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