Scripture: John 1: 26-27
Sermon - Learning to Play Second Fiddle
One day there was a young boy practicing his fiddle. He dismally scraped back and forth across the instrument, while his dog set up a plaintive howling and wailing.
Finally his sister stuck her head in his room and said, “Can’t you play something the dog doesn’t know?”
This humorous story reminds me of many a beginning violin student I’ve had. Until they learn how to push down with the bow and draw a steady tone from the instrument, it can be mighty gruesome. Today, I would like to talk about learning to play the fiddle…specifically, learning to play…second fiddle.
This little phrase, playing second fiddle, has some definite negative connotations. Most people don’t like playing second fiddle. Most vice-presidents dream of becoming president, the back-up quarterback awaits his chance to be number one and most theatrical understudies want to be the star.
The phrase, “second fiddle” comes from the practice of having the best player of each instrument sit in the first chair position, while the second best player sits in the second chair position and plays the second fiddle part. A lot of people have a real hard time playing second fiddle to someone else’s first fiddle.
What’s even more difficult is playing second fiddle, when once you were in the first chair position…having to play the second part, when once you were considered the best performer. How degrading…how embarrassing that can be…can you put yourself in that situation…can you understand what feelings you might have?
Well, in the bible, we learn of those who have played second fiddle. John, the Baptist knew about this, for at one time he was the best…the best preacher in the land. Multitudes came into the desert to hear him preach. He was known throughout the country…he was famous! He had a large following.
Then came Jesus. I wonder how John felt about stepping aside and pointing his disciples to Jesus? How was he able to do this unselfish act and humble himself?
The Bible says in John 1: 35-39,
35The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, "Look, the Lamb of God!"
37When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. 38Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, "What do you want?"
They said, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?"
39"Come," he replied, "and you will see."
So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him. It was about the tenth hour.
Put yourself in John, the Baptist’s shoes…watching two of your closest disciples walk off to follow another…watching the multitudes leave to seek out someone else. I’m sure you can understand the possible temptations that John faced. He could have ignored Jesus and selfishly sought the admiration of the crowds and his followers. But he didn’t.
Again, how did John, the Baptist step aside and begin playing “Second Fiddle” to Jesus?
For anyone to be able to play second fiddle, they must be self-assured. Socrates suggested that the key to wisdom is to “know thyself”.
How many people really know themselves? How long does it take to really know who you are and where you fit in this world? For some, it takes a lifetime…we all start out innocently enough, but as we grow and are tempted by all the worldly possibilities for our lives, and we begin to experiment and learn, we find that we don’t fit sometimes. We can’t seem to find our niche in this world. For some, it seems so easy. Right out of high school they know what they want to do with their lives…they know the direction they want to go. And yet, for others the search goes on and on.
Knowing yourself…there seems to me to be a very careful balance here…a balance between a healthy self-esteem and an unhealthy self-will.
Self-esteem is a Respect for and a confident acceptance of oneself as a person created by and useful to God. Self-esteem must be based on an understanding that people are created by God to be highly exalted and miserably fallen in their sin. A healthy self-esteem is knowing that each of us are of inestimable value to God and greatly loved by Him.
Becoming self-elated or self-willed turns you away from your God. A self-willed person begins to lead his own life arbitrary to the purpose of God. Such a person becomes arrogant and selfish…and lost.
Paul taught in 2nd Corinthians that Christians should have a balanced self-esteem that is able to minister to the needs of others.
John, the Baptist knew who he was…He knew that he wasn’t the Christ of the “Old Testament Scriptures”. Even with his great oratorical gifts, his large following, his amazing sense of the righteous, he simply says, “I am a voice calling in the wilderness…”…not a man, not a preacher, not even a prophet…just a voice…an instrument of God. John knew who he was and he was confident in his role as the voice of God. But, when Jesus came into his life, he knew he had found his purpose for living – he was a voice preparing the way for the Lamb of God. He knew why he was alive and he knew who he was.
And that’s where it has to begin…it has to begin with asking God what is His plan for your life. How and where are you to serve? The search needs to start with God.
When we begin to find answers in our search, we might find that our niche is to play second fiddle. We find that we aren’t meant for the presidency, or stardom, but ours is to serve and support. Maybe, we are meant to stay at home and raise our children…maybe ours is to work a daily grind and provide the money to support a growing family.
I read a short piece in the Daily Guidepost the other day. It was about a father and his son Nathan. The father writes, “The other night I was making the usual ‘drink of water, tuck in the blanket, give a kiss’ rounds at bedtime. I came to Nathan last and was in a hurry to get back to reading the newspaper. Nathan looked up and asked, ‘Dad, can’t you stay a little while?’ I was about to tell him it was time to sleep, but something in his eyes stopped me. I stretched out beside him, and his arm went around my neck and his head fell onto my chest.
We talked about school and a few silly things. Finally I said, ‘Nathan, was there some reason you wanted me to stay?’
‘No,’ he answered, ‘I just wanted to see if you would.’
That hit me hard. What could be more important than spending time with a child who wanted to be with me? Not much, because all too soon he’ll grow out of that need and I’ll be asking him to come spend time with his mother and me.”
We never really know, sometimes, how our roll of playing second fiddle might actually be the support that someone needs…the assurance that someone longs for.
If we are to successfully learn to play second fiddle, we must be willing to lose ourselves in the task. We must be willing to accept our responsibilities and fulfill them to best of our ability.
John, the Baptist knew his role was to serve and support the Lamb of God. He said of Jesus in John chapter 3, verse 30, “He must increase and I must decrease.” John understood that he was to “prepare the way” and he was willing to lose himself in the task of doing that. With his great gift of oration, he pointed to Jesus as the One…the Messiah…God’s Son.
John understood that serving Jesus was the way to receive honor from the Father. Therefore, he was willing to lose himself that he might find himself; he was willing to give himself away in order for Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, to be boldly lifted up.
Every Christian knows about John the Baptist but only because he gave up his place that Jesus might be known. John was willing to play second fiddle for Christ.
Finally, as we learn to play second fiddle, we must “Trust”…we must trust in God to lead us…to get us through the tough times…to help us keep our eye on the goal and purpose that we have found for our lives. When you understand God’s plan, you can accept the role of playing second fiddle…or third or last…or maybe even first fiddle.
You find that you are able to be responsible to God in the place he has put you and that you can be effective in doing the task appropriate to that opportunity.
The hymn "Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus" shows us this ‘Trust’ that we must have…
‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
and to take him at his word;
just to rest upon his promise,
and to know, “Thus saith the Lord.
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust him!
How I’ve proved him o’er and o’er!
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus
O for grace to trust him more!
It is said that the Believer must learn to have such a strong trust in God and Jesus during the good times, that when the dark moments of life come, that trust will remain and support you. This hymn, ‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus’ was written by a most remarkable woman, Louisa Stead.
Louisa Stead was born about 1850, at Dover, England. As a youngster she felt the call of God upon her life for missionary service. She arrived in America in 1871, and she lived for a time in Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1875, Louisa married a Mr. Stead, and they had one child, Lily. When the child was four years old, the family decided to enjoy a day on a sunny beach at Long Island Sound, New York. While eating their picnic lunch, they heard cries of help and spotted a drowning boy in the sea. Mr. Stead charged into the water. As often happens, however the struggling boy pulled his rescuer under the water with him, and both drowned before the terrified eyes of his wife and daughter. Out of her “Why?” struggle with God during the days after the tragedy she wrote these words to this now famous hymn…”Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus.”
Louisa trusted, she was willing to play second fiddle to the Will of God…she was able to trust in Jesus and go on with her life. She was led to missionary work in Southern Rhodesia and worked there for many years until her death in 1917.
We’ve all known people who were great ‘second fiddle’ players. Those are the ones who become indelibly etched in our memories…those are the ones who lead us…help us…console us with their life’s example.
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None of us are great or small in the service of our Lord; He is concerned only about our faithfulness to the work He gives us. If you want to be great in God’s Kingdom, you must learn to be a servant. In Mark, chapter 10, verse 44, it says:
“and whoever wants to be first, must be slave of all”
Second Fiddle is pretty important to God. By God’s Grace and the power of the Holy Spirit, we can play second fiddle and harmonize with the whole orchestra. We can support and proclaim, in our own way, the one who should come first. Then the entire world can know that Jesus is the Lamb of God, who has also come to be a Servant to scrub and clean the world of its dark sins.
It takes quite a person to play second fiddle…he must know himself, he must willing to lose himself in his task and he must trust in Jesus…he must willing to be a servant…a slave of all…
…Just like Jesus!
Amen
