Which Kingdom?

A couple of days ago I read this passage from 1 Corinthians 12, which talks about the church being one body with many members:
     "If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together." (vs. 26)
     I remember thinking, "yeah that's true...or rather, it should be true." How many times do we see someone suffering, and we do not have empathy for them; how many times do we see someone being honored, and instead of rejoicing, we become jealous and bitter toward that person? Too many times to count has this been the case in my life. More often than not does the church fail to live as one body straining together towards the goal of the glory of God. More often than not do we continue to seek our own recognition, success, and comfort rather than that of others, or more importantly, of God. 
     I still remember from a youth retreat about five years ago a message that was given that discussed the dissonance between two kingdoms. The first kingdom was God's kingdom (the BIG kingdom), the kingdom that encompasses all other kingdoms and which the Lord will reign forever and ever (Revelation 11:15). The second kingdom was "our" kingdom ( the little kingdom), which we try to hold on to ever so tightly. It includes our sin, our self-will, our self-indulgence, and our self-love. 
     For a Christian, the dissonance between the two kingdoms happens when we do not want to loose our grasp on our wishes and embrace the will of God. Belonging to the little kingdom will leave you disappointed and destitute because you will never fulfill your desires through your own reasoning and you will be struggling against God the whole way through it. When you are willingly and lovingly a part of God's kingdom, he will fulfill your every need and desire, and bring Him glory and you good all the days of your life.
     I have an example from a worldly source (gasp) that I think fits rather well with this topic. It is from a TV show that I have been watching recently called "Merlin". It is a loose telling of the younger days of Merlin and King Arthur during the beginning of the great days of Camelot. Because magic is outlawed at the time, Merlin has to keep his magic secret from everyone even though he is Arthur's servant and has to save his life using magic many a time. Many other sorcerers have risen up against the king and have become enemies of the kingdom, seeking their own gain rather than the gain of the kingdom. Merlin, however, keeps his magic a secret in order to be able to protect Arthur and allow him to build the great kingdom that has been prophesied about for many years. Even though Merlin is the greatest sorcerer ever to walk the earth, he lives like a shadow for the cause of the kingdom. 
     It is not an easy thing to set aside our selfish desires and needs and take up our cross daily and follow Christ. But the special part is that we are following. Christ has already been where we're going. When we keep our eyes fixed upon Him, He will be the light that illuminates our life. We will see those who are suffering and we will suffer with them. We will rejoice when others are honored, because ultimately it is God who is glorified, and that is the only thing and that is everything that matters. May we continue to see more of the BIG kingdom and strive for its continuance, rather than be caught up with the petty tendrils of the little kingdom.