I thought the wars over riding shotgun–the front passenger seat–would end when my boys exited elementary school.

Unfortunately, no. My boys are now 13, 17 and 18 years old. One is old enough to vote and be tried as an adult. But still the battle over who gets to sit in the front seat of my too-old truck continue. Yes, even this morning.

Why is calling shotgun important? Why is sitting up front for a drive that won’t last more than 7 or 8 minutes matter so much? Is it really worth all the arguing and manipulation to secure the seat on my right?

It reminds me of two brothers and a mother determined to snag a throne on either side of a kingly Christ. When the other disciples weren’t looking, mama and her boys approached Jesus with a proposition: “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.” (Matthew 20:21)

In the face of Salvation, they worried about position.

Of course, we do the same when we invest in a friendship because of who she knows. Or when we manipulate a meeting because of the connections it might provide. Or when we dive into a ministry because of the status we’re seeking or the recognition we crave. We may not be calling shotgun in the car or asking for a throne next to a Savior, but we’re putting way too much emphasis on position and not enough on relationship.

Paul reminds us that Jesus had every right to claim a position, every right to call shotgun, but instead chose the backseat, a position of humble servanthood at the feet of God.

“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature[a] God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature[b] of a servant …” ~ Philippians 2:5-6

In the kingdom of God, the moment you start vying for position is the moment you lose it. Better to focus on kneeling and serving, especially if you want to capture the attention of a Savior.

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.”  Philippians 2:3, NLT, emphasis mine

Remember when Big Idea was just that?  Bob the Tomato and Larry the Cucumber taught kids important spiritual lessons through the one food group children readily dismiss?  So what happened to it?  It grew.  Tremendously.  3,300% in three years.  So they set bigger, better goals that would land them on lists such as Fortune 500.  Executives forecasted even more growth and revenue.  Millions were spent to meet those predictions, yet they never came true.  Instead, Big Idea filed for bankruptcy, squishing the tomato into ketchup.

In an In Touch interview, Big Idea’s founder Phil Vischer answers the question “why do you think God would allow this” by saying “because I made the work I was doing for Him more important than my relationship with Him.”  His response scares me because it so easily could become my answer, too.  All too often I’ll get so excited over something I believe God is calling me to that I race towards it, asking God to bless my work while leaving Him behind. 

My mentor recently shared her perspective on this topic.  She’s come to liken her life to baking.  God is the Master Creator and could easily accomplish everything He wills and purposes.  But, just like she could bake cookies that turn out better than when baking with her children, God prefers the quality time spent together in the kitchen.  When God calls her to something, she is humbled and inspired that her Abba Daddy wants to “bake” with her.

Which will you be?  A CEO, pastor or stay-at-home mom striving to impress others or a sous chef in the kitchen with the Maker of the Universe?