Where Does Greatness Lie?

 March 9, 2024

Saturday

Just about everybody wants to be somebody. From the moment we can talk, we want to call ourselves "big." Our high school days were spent making sure we were included. We wanted to be with the "cool" group. We wanted others to notice how important we were. (Or at least not call us worthless.) Eventually, most people give up. They may want to be treated well as a customer but they have no concern about becoming the boss.

Does this desire come down between being served and serving? If the flesh is against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh wouldn't the flesh want to be served while the Spirit will serve?

This is where we throw Jesus' disciples under the bus while acting the same as they did. The mother of James and John asks if her sons can sit on Jesus' left and right when He comes into His kingdom. He questions whether they can drink from the cup He will drink from. They say they will and He admits that they will. However, Jesus doesn't grant them the greatness that they desire. So, the rest of the disciples who also want to be great become indignant with James and John. So . . . .

Matthew 20:24–28 (NASB 2020) ²⁴ And after hearing this, the other ten disciples became indignant with the two brothers. ²⁵ But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles domineer over them, and those in high position exercise authority over them. ²⁶ It is not this way among you, but whoever wants to become prominent among you shall be your servant,²⁷ and whoever desires to be first among you shall be your slave; ²⁸ just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”

The question for a believer is: "Where do you want to be great?" Do you want to be great in the world or great in the Kingdom of God?

I heard a televangelist say that he had heard that heaven was paved with streets of gold but he wanted his gold now. How short sighted can you be? Would you rather have treasures on this earth that you can't take with you or treasures in heaven that are yours forever? It appears that many people would rather lease heaven than to own it.

We must ask if Jesus greatness was on earth. He never wrote a book. He never traveled very far. He was abandoned even by most of His closest followers when He was in His greatest need. Yet, His greatness is beyond anything the world has ever known. He sits at the right hand of God the Father in heaven. All believers will one day be judged by Him for their rewards in heaven.

Even in church we recount greatness. Each special speaker is introduced by the books he has written, the places he has preached, the number he has preached to and the decisions made from his preaching. It seems we haven't learned what Jesus said. The greatest is not the one who is the most well known. The greatest is the one who has served like a slave. This is why Paul will address himself as "slave of Jesus Christ" at the beginning of Romans. This is where greatness lies.

So, instead of seeking to be served today. Do something great. Serve others. The rewards are out of this world.