"They came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house, he asked them, `What were you discussing (arguing about) on the way? But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them. 'If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all"' (Mark 9:33-35).
What is greatness? What does it mean to be great? Synonyms include glory, honor, or recognition. To be great is to be recognized and honored for accomplishing something truly significant. Our concept of greatness is often associated with success, achievement, wealth, prestige, learning, celebrity, athletic ability or political might. Let’s be honest: all of us desire greatness in life. Greatness may mean different things for each one of us, but underneath the surface the desire is there. As a kid, I dreamt of playing in the NBA as a point guard or the NFL as a wide receiver. Later on I dreamt of being a world champion surfer. When I was in college I desired to be a straight A student and at the top of my class. I have dreamt of being a great and successful pastor with a great and impactful church.
How do you measure greatness? I have discovered that my desire for greatness to be weak and is misdirected. I have often times allowed the world to influence and shape me in my quest for greatness. I have been satisfied with desires for temporal, fleeting, empty, and low level desires for greatness in comparison to the kind of greatness that God defines as greatness, offers me by His grace, and desires for me to pursue. Do you know that God also desires greatness for you? We must judge our ideas of greatness in the light of God and allow Him to show us how to become a great person. Greatness, Jesus style, is available to you. What is true greatness according to God? God’s order is different to ours. He turns the world’s understanding of greatness on its head, and says that in God’s order "true greatness comes in humble servanthood.
Jesus disciples had a hard time with greatness. Think about this. Men who were receiving intensive training from Jesus Christ, the ultimate example of humility and servanthood (Read John 13; Philippians 2:5-8), were embroiled in a full-scale dispute about their relative superiority to each other. The burning question among them was the position that each would have, who would sit at Jesus right hand of power, and who would be given most authority and recognition. The disciples repeatedly struggled with what Jesus was trying to teach them about His Kingdom. They jockeyed for position, maneuvered for favor, argued over who was the greatest.
Jesus knew their hearts, just as He knows ours. I am so thankful that He did because it gives rise to Jesus richest teaching about greatness. So He immediately addressed their selfish ambition, their competitive hearts, and to my own motives: "And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them. 'If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all"' (Mark 9:35).
Jesus was radically redefining greatness. What Jesus does here is very profound. He recognizes in his disciples' quest for greatness a good thing that has become ugly and distorted by sin. And instead of destroying the whole distorted thing, he describes a pathway on which the distorted and ugly pursuit of greatness will be radically transformed into something beautiful. He says true greatness does not want to be first while others are second and third and fourth, but true greatness is the willingness to be last. And true greatness is not positioning yourself so that others praise you, but true greatness is putting yourself in a position to serve everyone, to be a blessing to as many as you possibly can.
All Christians are ministering servants. We are to serve people as if serving the Lord. That means God’s glory and peoples needs are to be our agenda. Great persons are the Lord’s foot washers. So Jesus doesn't condemn the quest for greatness. He radically transforms it. Go ahead and pursue it, he says. But the path is down, not up. We are all called to true greatness in humble service whether homemakers, pastors, bankers, lawyers, or businessmen. The measure of true greatness is to what degree has the impulse to self-interest, self-serving, and self-exaltation been crucified? How much heartfelt desire to serve others has there been? How much readiness and willingness to decrease while others increase?
Are you pursuing greatness this week? It is clear that God is utterly unimpressed with the world’s criteria of greatness. “What is highly valued among men is detestable in God’s sight.” (Luke 16:15). Which will you pursue: selfish pride or humility; being served or serving others? Mans standard of greatness or God’s? A life that glorifies self or a life that glorifies God?
I am issuing a call for greatness to you my readers. Would you join me in the search for true greatness? The paths to greatness are many. Don't waste your life laying up treasures on earth for yourselves and seeking the praise of men. True and lasting riches await you in humble servanthood. And the only praise that matters is the praise of Jesus: "Well done good and faithful servant." May we seek the path to true greatness: humility, for our joy, others benefit, and His glory.
Pastor Bill
No comments:
Post a Comment