Parables - Wisdom for LifeSample

If you’re reading this, you can probably say the alphabet. We all learn it from a young age. A, B, C, D, E, F, G… But we might not know how to say the alphabet backward. Z, Y, X, W, V, U, T… It’s not something we are used to doing unless we go out of our way to specifically learn it in reverse.

In the kingdom of heaven, some things seem to be back to the front or upside down. Jesus shared parables saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like…” to help His followers understand how this backward kingdom works.

Saying the alphabet backward is a bit like this, too. Jesus said that in His kingdom, the first will be last, and the last will be first. Whoever wanted to be great would have to be a servant, and giving is more blessed than receiving. In a world where people want to be first, not last, great, not servants and want to get, not give, God’s kingdom seems back to front. The amazing thing is that if you put Him first in your life, you’ll never come second in God's kingdom. He’ll always look after your needs.