1 Maccabees 14:28-43: a reflection

28in Asaramel, in a great congregation of priests and people and princes of the nation, and of the elders of the country, it was proclaimed to us: 29‘Since wars often occurred in the country, Simon the son of Mattathias, the son of the sons of Joarib, and his brothers, put themselves in jeopardy and withstood the enemies of their nation, that their sanctuary and the law might be established, and glorified their nation with great glory. 30Jonathan rallied the nation, became their high priest, and was gathered to his people. 31Their enemies planned to invade their country, that they might destroy their country utterly, and stretch out their hands against their sanctuary. 32Then Simon rose up and fought for his nation. He spent much of his own money to arm the valiant men of his nation and give them wages. 33He fortified the cities of Judea and Bethsura that lies on the borders of Judea, where the weapons of the enemies had been stored, and there he placed a garrison of Jews. 34He fortified Joppa which is upon the sea, and Gazara which is upon the borders of Azotus, where the enemies used to live, and placed Jews there, and set in there all things necessary for their restoration. 35The people saw Simon’s faith, and the glory which he resolved to bring to his nation, and they made him their leader and high priest, because he had done all these things, and for the justice and the faith which he kept to his nation, and because he sought by all means to exalt his people. 36In his days, things prospered in his hands, so that the Gentiles were taken away out of their country, and they also who were in the city of David, those who were in Jerusalem, who had made themselves a citadel, out of which they used to go, and polluted everything around the sanctuary, and did great damage to its purity. 37He placed Jews in it and fortified it for the safety of the country and the city, and made high the walls of Jerusalem. 38King Demetrius confirmed to him the high priesthood according to these things, 39and made him one of his friends, and honored him with great honor; 40for he had heard that the Jews had been called by the Romans friends, allies, and kindred, and that they had met the ambassadors of Simon honorably; 41and that the Jews and the priests were well pleased that Simon should be their leader and high priest forever, until there should arise a faithful prophet; 42and that he should be governor over them, and should take charge of the sanctuary, to set them over their works, and over the country, and over the weapons, and over the strongholds; and that he should take charge of the sanctuary, 43and that he should be obeyed by all, and that all contracts in the country should be written in his name, and that he should be clothed in purple, and wear gold;

When the people honor Simon, making him their leader and high priest, the proclamation recounts why: he and his family had fought for the nation, put themselves in jeopardy, withstood their enemies; Simon had spent much of his own money to arm and pay the fighters, fortified the cities, sought by all means to exalt his people. He was honored not for grasping at power, but for a long record of faithful, sacrificial service to his people. The honor came because he had truly served, at great cost to himself, seeking the good of the nation.

Notice why Simon was honored: for a life of faithful, sacrificial service. The people did not exalt him because he demanded it or grasped for it; they exalted him because he had served them faithfully, at great cost, putting himself in danger, spending his own resources, seeking their good. His honor was the fruit of his service, the recognition of a life spent for others. He did not seek honor for himself; he served, sacrificed, sought the people's good, and the honor followed, given by a grateful people who saw his faithful service.

That is worth taking to heart, for true honor is the fruit of faithful, sacrificial service, not of grasping for it. We can seek honor and standing directly, grasping for recognition, demanding to be exalted; but Simon was honored because he had faithfully served and sacrificed for others, not because he grasped for honor. The honor worth having is the fruit of a life spent in service, given by others who recognize it, not seized for oneself. Do not grasp for honor and recognition directly; give yourself to faithful, sacrificial service of others, and let honor, if it comes, be the fruit of that service, as Simon was honored for a life spent for his people. Seek to serve faithfully and sacrificially, as Simon did, rather than seeking honor for yourself; for the honor worth having is the fruit of genuine service to others, given freely by those who see it, as the people honored Simon for the faithful, sacrificial service he had rendered his nation.

Lord, when the people honor Simon, making him their leader and high priest, the proclamation recounts why: he and his family had fought for the nation, put themselves in jeopardy, withstood their enemies; Simon had spent much of his own money to arm and pay the fighters, and sought by all means to exalt his people. He was honored not for grasping at power, but for a long record of faithful, sacrificial service. The honor came because he had truly served, at great cost to himself. Show me why Simon was honored: for a life of faithful, sacrificial service. The people did not exalt him because he demanded it; they exalted him because he had served them faithfully, at great cost, seeking their good. His honor was the fruit of his service. He did not seek honor for himself; he served, sacrificed, sought the people's good, and the honor followed. Take that to my heart, for true honor is the fruit of faithful, sacrificial service, not of grasping for it. I can seek honor and standing directly, grasping for recognition, demanding to be exalted; but Simon was honored because he had faithfully served and sacrificed for others. The honor worth having is the fruit of a life spent in service, not seized for oneself. Keep me from grasping for honor and recognition directly; help me give myself to faithful, sacrificial service of others, Lord, and let honor, if it comes, be the fruit of that service, as Simon was honored for a life spent for his people. Help me seek to serve faithfully and sacrificially, rather than seeking honor for myself.