Growing up, I never understood the meaning of “the first shall be last and the last shall be first.”
In the Bible, specifically within the Gospel of Matthew, the worldly idea of status is questioned. As a student, I examined how desiring and receiving straight A’s might not be right. As an athlete, I wondered if wanting to win could be wrong. Is striving worth it? When would achievement be inappropriate? If first place is bad then what is good?
We do not experience positive emotion unless we have an aim and perceive ourselves as moving closer to it. When we set goals, our attention focuses in on activities and allies that assist our advancement toward those goals while simultaneously mitigating concentration on other irrelevant paths. When we decide what we want, we become intrinsically motivated to take action. Our destiny is determined by what we aim at.
People may spend their whole lives climbing a ladder of success only to find, once they reach the top, that the ladder is leaning against the wrong wall.
– Thomas Merton
In his third best-selling book, The Art of Spending Money, Morgan Housel wrote a chapter titled: “The Rich and the Wealthy.” It gets to the core of material versus moral victory.
Housel explains how rich individuals are controlled by money, fame, and earthly prestige like a marionette puppet. Perceived power becomes “dangerous obsession rather than noble ambition.” A prime example is the Vanderbilt family, who built an immense fortune throughout the 19th century and then lost it because each subsequent generation squandered it all away. Those who inherited funds purchased possessions, flaunted their riches recklessly, and spent carelessly. Instead of stewarding the family’s finances, they were controlled by them.
“There’s a stoic saying: you are unlikely to have a good and meaningful life unless you can overcome your insatiability. That fits well here. Don’t be proud of your consumption. Be proud of what you’ve built… the family you’ve built, the friends you’ve found, the memories you have, the wisdom you’ve accumulated… the people, not the stuff, are actually meaningful,” Housel concludes.
Wealthy individuals, conversely, maintain independence and freedom through self-control. Money is a tool, not a master. They separate what they want from what they like. They prize people over possessions. They work to cultivate deep emotional and spiritual relationships as opposed to mere physical bank accounts. Love > lust. Significance > success. Character > career.
The etymology of the word character refers to “engraved marks, deeply imprinted qualities, and inscribed moral traits.” Our careers may change, and they oftentimes do. Our character, however, shows through the intangibles we consistently carry out. When we focus on what’s within our control (character), we take the narrow path toward true wealth.
When we sing, dance, and exercise routinely on our own… that energy will reflect into our meetings, calls, and appointments with others. When we smile in the mirror and speak kindly to ourselves… that confidence will vibrate into engagements at work and interactions during our daily commutes. When we tell the truth and push through tough times all alone… that character will attract other courageous characters. The most reliable expectations in our lives are the standards we set for ourselves.
An individual’s true level of happiness is measured by the gap between expectations and reality — that is my main takeaway from Housel’s book. It’s not about craving, desiring, and expecting more; it’s about not wanting. It’s about letting go of resistance found within past traumas and future anxieties. It’s about seeking what is beautiful, good, and true. It’s about accepting who we are and what we have before committing and recommitting to worthwhile adventures full of sacrifice, service, and love.
So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
– Matthew 20:16
Gosh, that’s hard to understand and even harder to embody. Nevertheless, it makes sense. Not cents. Sense: the feeling that something is true. How could it not be true? Those who are chosen are the ones who answer the call to what is morally highest.
Should we value any worldly power?
If not, what should we value instead?
And, which values matter most?
Call to action: Write down your top 5-10. Then, circle your top 3. Underline or highlight your #1. Finish by committing to one routine that embodies that top value [because thoughts determine what we want; actions determine what we get]!
To discern is to properly choose based on logical reason and personal conviction, using both head and heart. Nobody wants to be intentionally impoverished; nobody wants to intentionally dance with the devil, either. This requires virtuous behavior. This requires ethical decision-making. This requires discerning what truly matters.
I now understand the meaning of “the first shall be last and the last shall be first.”
It boils down to what we value most — to be rich without control or to be wealthy with character…
In the end, character wins.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
– Matthew 6:21
— MG