Superior – of Higher Rank or Quality
To be superior is to stand above: higher in rank, power or quality. Scripture reveals a God who is above all things, a Saviour who is supreme over every rival, and a call for His people to walk in the humility of the One who, though He was above all, made Himself nothing.
God Is Infinitely Superior
The potter is superior to the clay, just as God is infinitely superior to humanity for “None can compare with you” (Ps 40:5; Isa 45:9, 64:8). He is the King of kings, and Lord of lords, the ruler of the kings of the earth which He is able to turn whatever way He will (Prov 21:1; 1 Tim 6:15; Rev 1:5). God can do all things within the bounds of His justice and will (Job 42:2). As He has made everything there is, so He is the only one who can claim superiority (Jn 1:3; Heb 1:3-4). He has declared, “I am the Lord and besides me there is no other” (Deut 4:35; Isa 45:21).
He is perfect in all His ways, which are so much higher than ours (Deut 32:4; Isa 55:8-9; Mt 5:48). His love and purposes are far superior to anything we can envisage, and the sacrifice of Jesus for our sin was much more superior to the Old Testament sacrificial system (Heb 7:24-25, 8:6, 9:28, 10:4; 1 Jn 1:7). Such supremacy is not merely status – it is the foundation of worship, trust and obedience, for only One who is truly above all is worthy of all.
Christ’s credentials as “King of kings and Lord of lords” set Him above all others – Revelation 17:14
The Danger of a Superior Attitude
We humans are not to compare ourselves with others because we will either consider ourselves superior, resulting in arrogance and pride, or inferior, resulting in shame (Lk 18:9-14; 2 Cor 10:12; 1 Tim 4:12). Acting in a superior way isolates, separating oneself from those who are considered of lesser standing or importance and fails to acknowledge our own shortfalls – “What have we got that we did not receive?” (1 Cor 4:7).
There is no place for superior attitudes (by either the husband or wife) in a marriage. Both have different functions or roles and there is to be love and submission to each other. God has designated the man to be the head over the wife and family – not to dominate but lead in sacrificial love (1 Cor 11:3-4,9-11; Eph 5:22-33).
Love and service should guide our actions
In every facet of human society, there is an authority structure and leadership accountability. We are to honour and respect those above us and the position they hold, while also valuing, and treating with the same respect, those lower down in social standing who are also made in the image of God and in whose eyes we are all equal. Indeed, we are to esteem others better than ourselves, outworking the servant-heart nature of Christ, with Christian leaders specifically told to “not lord it over those entrusted to you” (Mk 10:44; Phil 2:3; 1 Pet 5:2-3). Although He was the Lord of glory, Jesus humbly washed the feet of His disciples, and said “Do as I have done to you” (Jn 13:3-17).
One Body, One Supreme Lord
Just as no part of the body can say ‘I don’t need you’, so it is in the church body (1 Cor 12:21). Though our callings and abilities differ, they should never lead us to consider some superior to others; each is simply to be faithful to their divine assignment with the attitude of Christ, who came to minister (Phil 2:5-7). All Christians are ‘one in Christ’, saved by grace as a gift, so no one can boast (Gal 3:28; Eph 2:8-9).
Have you made Him your commanding officer?
Within that one body God appoints differing roles, yet ‘the eye cannot say to the hand, I don’t need you’ – the parts we think less honourable are given greater honour, so there should be no division (1 Cor 12:4-11, 14-26). Yes, there is a chain of command – the Father over Christ, Christ over man, shepherds over the flock, governing authorities appointed by God (1 Cor 11:3; Heb 13:17; Rom 13:1-2) – but an order of function is not an order of worth. All have sinned, and all are justified freely by His grace (Rom 3:23-24); no one was saved by position or performance, for all were bought with the same precious blood (1 Pet 1:18-19). The ground is level at the foot of the cross, where apostle and newest convert kneel as equals (1 Cor 12:13; Gal 3:28) – so the one who leads serves, and the one who follows honours, neither believing they are a different class of Christian. Differing roles, one body; differing ranks, one blood.
Christianity stands above all other religions because Christ Himself is supreme. He is the only leader who conquered death, rose from the grave, and was confirmed by miracles witnessed by thousands. No evidence has ever been found to discredit the New Testament's account of Jesus or the transformation He brings about in people's lives.Yet this is no ground for arrogance. Rather, believers should display humility to those misled by other beliefs – not discrediting what they believe, but showing a lifestyle so desirable they want to know its source (Mt 5:14-16). Paul considered himself the ‘least of all saints’, yet was used mightily by God (Eph 3:8).
Reflection and Application
- Do I compare myself with others – and do I treat those ‘below’ me with the same honour I show those ‘above’ me?
- Do I value believers whose role in the body is different from mine – remembering we were all saved by the same blood?
- What transformation has occurred in my life since coming into relationship with Jesus?
- Have I made Christ my commanding officer – obeying Him, not merely admiring Him?