Second

8/9/2023

Written by: Frieda Dowler

I recently drove behind a car and read the sticker on the back window, “I am second”. How odd, I thought. Who would want the public to know you’re second? That’s not cool, because society teaches us we should be number one. Second is embarrassing. Second means you’re weak. Second means you are somehow inferior.

As the days progressed, I couldn’t get the thought out of my mind. Things like signs that read, “Second Avenue”, “Second Baptist Church”, and “Second Hand Store”, all captured my attention.

I started thinking about my own seconds in life. I was born a second child, second string for my high school sport, always second in command at my job. Never getting the glory but still putting in the hard work. Being second was tough, but it taught me a lot. I learned satisfaction that comes from what I accomplished was better than praises I might have received. I didn’t start out loving to be second, but through the years, this scripture became my focus:

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” Col. 3:23–24 NIV.

I continued to meditate on being second. I recalled scriptures that let me know it is good to be second. It removes the attention and glory from oneself so we can place where it rightly belongs. And that is on God.

The first commandment God gave Moses on Mt. Sinai was, “You shall have no other gods before me.” Ex. 20:3 NIV.

God commands us to be second. Second to him and to him only. He wants to be first in our lives. If we put ourselves first, we forget about God. In fact, the entire Christian life is about putting ourselves second. Jesus says if we don’t learn this on earth, we will not inherit heaven. Scripture records this:

“On one occasion, an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. ‘Teacher,’ he asked, ‘what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ ‘What is written in the Law?’ he replied. ‘How do you read it?’ He answered, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ‘You have answered correctly,’ Jesus replied. ‘Do this and you will live.’” Luke 10: 25 - 28.

Learning to think of ourselves second, and not first, is to re-learn what our culture teaches. Paul gave instruction for Christian living to the early church in Rome and this is a key verse.

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Rom. 12:2 NIV.

Renewing our mind means to get a spiritual perspective about life. It’s about regenerating or changing for the better. God gave us a better way to live. Unfortunately, culture distorts God’s original plan. And God’s plan is to live in harmony and fellowship with him. When we think about God, talk to him regularly, and ask him for guidance, it means we put him first by considering his ways above our ways. Being second means we have someone over us who will lead and guide us into a better way of life.

When we consider all of that, being second isn’t so bad. But it is countercultural. We must be intentional about putting God first. It’s a daily choice. When we care more about following God’s ways and less about what people say, then we’ve learned to put God first and ourselves second. When we can learn to live according to the gospel of Jesus Christ in the face of our culture, then we will relax with being second.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: Rom. 1:16 NIV.