So the last will be first, and the first last. (Matthew 20:16 ESV)
Order
These words by Jesus seem manipulatable. So, Jesus says the last will be first? Then why not maneuver in just the right way to be last?
I had a teacher in elementary school who got tired of students clamoring to be first in line for recess. So she began to wait until the pushing and shouting diminished, and then choose whoever was last in line, and let them go first.
It worked for a day or two, but then we all started clamoring to be LAST in line.
Jesus was not giving instructions to connive our way to the front in any area of our lives. He was not proposing a secret code where the first exchanged places with the last, the second exchanged places with the second last, and on down the line.
Instead, He is telling us to worry less about commonly touted results. Because in the end, HE is ultimately, in His loving sovereignty, in charge of the end results.
So focus on what matters. Let Him take care of the results.
What our culture and society says is most important, Jesus says is least important. At least until our culture and society become more Christlike. On Christ’s scorecard, things like humble and sacrificial love are first, even though the world sees them as last. The way Jesus lived, things like obedience to God and focus on His Word are first, even thought the world mocks them. As Christians, we get to follow God’s first born Son, even though others ignore Him.
We do not determine importance, but Jesus does.