The Saint Louis Cardinals just won the 2011 World Series. And in the jubilant chaos in the field after the game was a scene common in many sporting events. One could observe celebrating players and fans holding up their index finger in the air, the symbol for “number one.”
Human beings have an undeniable attraction toward those who reach the top spot—whether it be in sports, in business, in education, even in recreation games. We keep records of the achievers. We constantly seek to find out who’s the current leader in a particular field. Even better would be for us to be the number one. And we fantasize about it.
There is nothing necessarily wrong about a healthy ambition to be the best that we can be. It is a worthwhile endeavor. And sometimes that can mean being acknowledged as the number one person in our chosen field. It only becomes a problem when we develop an unwholesome obsession with the idea of being first. We start becoming manipulative and even resort to questionable maneuvers to remove obstacles on our way to the top. And then we stop caring about who gets hurt along the way as long as it isn’t us and as long as we achieve our goal.
The idiom “looking out for number one” usually refers to this kind of mindset that considers one’s own preferences and interests, benefits and advantages, as the all-important factor in anything. We become irritated at or even bear a grudge against anyone whom we perceive to ignore or overlook our significance. The concern about being “number one” is no longer about being the best, but only about being recognized by others and enjoying the benefits of such recognition.
The writer of 3 John describes a certain Diotrephes as one “who loves to be first” (v. 9). This person, it appears, wanted the position of authority that John had in the church. And so Diotrephes resorts to “spreading malicious nonsense” about John, and even attempts to maneuver the removal of those in the church sympathetic with John (v. 10). Diotrephes is concerned only about being number one, and disregards the health and unity of the church as a whole, and its commitment to the gospel.
Scripture condemns any such behavior as that of Diotrephes. “These people are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage” (Jude 16 NIV). Genuine followers of Christ must show the complete opposite: “Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand” (Philippians 2.3–4 The Message). This is the way of Christ. For the Christian, Jesus Christ alone is the true Number One.
—Keith Y. Jainga