In today's Gospel reading from Mark 10, James and John come to Jesus and ask, "Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left."
Jesus' answer ends with, "Whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many."
If you've ever been to a dinner filled with important people, you know that the seating arrangements usually reflect each person's importance. So it will be in the wedding banquet in heaven. The difference is that the self-important will be relegated to the lowest places; the most humble servants will occupy the choicest seats. Being elevated on earth will not result in being elevated in the Kingdom.
Father, give us the heart of a servant, the humility of a slave, that we may be pleasing to you at the banquet of heaven. Amen.
In Mark 10:35-45 (Verses 38 and 39) and Matthew 20:20-24 (verses 23)
Christ lets James and John know that sitting on the right or left of God is not his to give that the one the Father prepared will sit there. (why did you not address that)
Are you saying by having a heart of a servant and the humility of a slave that it will be pleasing to God and closer to God closer to eternity?