Reggie Miller is one of my all-time favorite basketball players. All my buddies loved Michael Jordan but I was a Reggie man. I think it was his ability to shoot the three. He had the high arching shot that seemed to rain down into the basket. The reason for his shot was his sister, it was the only way he could get over her.
Reggie was the younger sibling to his big-time basketball star sister, Cheryl Miller. She was an All-America for four straight years at Riverside Polytechnic High School. Reggie was just known as Cheryl’s little brother.
Finally, in high school, he had his chance to shine. Midway through his sophomore year, he became a starter on the varsity team. On that first night he got the start, he had a big game. His family had gone to Cheryl’s game, so when they picked him up it was time to brag.
Reggie recapped the victory. “I got to start, even went for forty”. Cheryl was happy for him. “That’s great” she exclaimed! Then his Dad piped up, “Tell him about your night”. Reggie asked, “How many did you get, more than forty”? Cheryl answered, “A bit more”. “Forty-Five? Fifty? Sixty? More?” Reggie asked until he finally gave up and asked, “How many"? “105”, she replied.
Yeah, that night Cheryl set the national record for points in a game. She would go on to also set California state records for points scored in a single season (1156), and points scored in a high school career (3405).
Sibling rivalry is a tough thing.
Don’t feel too bad for Reggie, he made to the basketball hall of fame. They put his picture right next to his sister. Of course, she made it there first.
In the Bible, there have been numerous sibling rivalries. Jacob and Esau. Cain and Abel. David and his brothers. Sometimes God had to settle them like for Moses, Arron, and Miriam (Number 12:1-16). It’s not just family members either. Even the disciples were always trying to be on top.
And there arose also a dispute among them as to which one of them was regarded to be greatest. And He said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who have authority over them are called 'Benefactors.' "But it is not this way with you, but the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant. "For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves.
Luke 22:24-27
Jesus wanted his follower, however, not to be concerned with trying to get to the top but the bottom. To be great you had to be willing to be less. Server rather than to be served. The least of these rather the greatest of all time.
He didn’t just preach it he lived it.
Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Philippians 2:5-8
There is always going to be that person that just seems a bit better than you no matter what you do. But that isn’t our worry. Our goal as the faithful should be to be more like the best one Jesus Christ. He wasn’t seeking glory but submission. His greatness was in what he gave up not in what he got.
To make it to heaven you don’t have to beat anyone else to get there.
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