Joseph Parker tells the story of the little watch that was not content to serve in the pocket of his master. It kept watching Big Ben on the tower there in London and thinking, “Boy, how I would like to be the place of prominence. How I would like to be upon that tower. If I were up there, then I could serve all of London. I wouldn’t have to stay here in this little pocket, serving just one man.”
And as chance would have it the watch was promoted to the tower where Big Ben was located. But up there high above the city, on that giant tower, next to Big Ben, nobody ever saw it. And it became inconspicuous and invaluable at this high position above the city. And Joseph Parker said concerning the watch, in its elevation it was annihilated. That’s what happens sometimes to us. We are so busy seeking after high places, prominent positions where we can run things, where we can control things that we lose our usefulness in the kingdom of God. Jesus said, “The one who is greatest among you let him be the servant of all and in his service he achieves true greatness.”
That principle will work where you work. Stop always trying to promote yourself and just do the job effectively and quietly, efficiently. And whatever honor and position ought to come probably will come. And in the kingdom of God, it is that way.