LEAST!

Nope, that’s not Dallas as in “DFW,” in Texas. This Dallas is a tiny rural hamlet in Morayshire, Scotland, close to Elgin, where I happened to be on a preaching assignment. This Dallas (pop. 200) was what apparently—and indirectly—gave rise to the name of our fair city—Dallas, TX (“where the women are strong, the men are good-looking, and all the children are above average,” and where these men, women, and children account for a pop. of 5,700,000). Quite a far cry from this other little known locality that bears the same name. From little things ….

(When you folks in DFW suffer under watering restrictions this summer with the temps in the scorching and searing 100s, it might help to remember that “Dallas” comes from the Gaelic Dalais, which means “valley of water”!)

George Mifflin Dallas (1792–1864), for whom the 5th largest metropolitan region in the U.S. was actually named, had roots in the bonnie Dallas across the Atlantic; his ancestors hailed from Scotland. Mr. Dallas, by the way, was the 11th Vice President of the U.S., serving under James Polk. From little things ….

Dallas to DFW. From little things, great things can arise. From the humblest beginnings, glorious trajectories may be traced.

You might remember David’s choice by God to be king over Israel. Samuel, the prophet, preparing to anoint the next regent is surveying the sons of Jesse for potential candidates to the throne. Seven eminent and exemplary youths, full of vim and vigour, parade before the seer. Samuel is hopeful. But God is not.

"… God sees
not as a man sees,
for man looks
at the outward appearance,
but the LORD
looks at the heart.”
1 Samuel 16:7

The youngest, the shepherd-boy, the least, David, who described himself as “a dead dog, a single flea” (1 Sam 24:14), becomes the next monarch. The least becomes the great. There is hope for the rest of us!

This same God who looks at the heart told us through His Son that …

“… the one who is
the greatest among you
must become
like the youngest,
and the leader
like the servant."
Luke 22:26

A true recognition of self-worth, is what God is talking about. That’s what He looks for—humility. The knowledge that we wouldn’t be what we are but for the grace of God. Without God, never! With Christ, nobody! Without the Spirit, nothing! The greatest is the least!

For who regards
you as superior?
And what do you have
that you did not receive?
1 Corinthians 4:7

The greatest is the least! What an odd principle, but Biblical.

"Whoever then
humbles himself
as this child,
he is the greatest
in the kingdom of heaven."
Matthew 18:4

And the least becomes the greatest!

... humble yourselves
under the mighty hand of God,
that He may exalt you
at the proper time….
1 Peter 5:5–6

Humility! Of all the self-characterizations of our Lord Jesus Christ, this one stands out—His meekness, gentleness, humility. That, then, is surely part of what it means to be Christlike.

"… I am gentle
and humble in heart …."
Matthew 11:29

Being the “least” in heart and attitude, being gentle and humble, is reckoned as part of the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

… the fruit of the Spirit is
love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness,
self-control ….
Galatians 5:22–23

The greatest is the least and the least becomes the greatest. Let’s be great! For the glory of God!