No one would argue with this statement. It would be wrong for the servant to be lifted higher than his Master.

When our Lord walked this earth, how was he treated? Did people acknowledge his claims? Did they follow his teaching? Did they worship his perfections? No! He was despised and rejected. His place was outside the camp. His daily work was carrying a cross.

Did the world offer him comfort or rest? "Foxes have holes, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." This hostile world gave him no shelter. It threw him out and nailed him to a tree.

And you—if you are a follower of Jesus, if you live a consistent, Christ-like life that people can see—this is what you should expect. They will treat your faith exactly as they treated your Savior. They will despise it.

Stop dreaming that the world will admire you! The more holy you become, the more like Christ you grow, the less the world will tolerate you. They didn't value the polished diamond. Why would they appreciate the uncut stone? "If they have called the Master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they slander his household?"

Here's the truth that cuts: if we were more like Christ, we would be more hated by his enemies. What a shameful thing it would be for a child of God to be the world's favorite! It's a terrible sign when this wicked world applauds and shouts "Well done!" to the Christian. When the ungodly start approving of you, you'd better examine your life. You may have wandered off course.

So let us be faithful to our Master. Let us refuse friendship with this blind and corrupt world that mocks and rejects him. God forbid that we should seek a crown of honor in the very place where our Lord wore a crown of thorns.