My aim in this blog is to explain greatness from God’s view point and how it can be attained God’s way. The Lord Jesus did not spend much of His time to teach His disciples how to be great neither did He give them a ten-point formula on how to become great or famous but rather He taught them about service, humility and character. He taught them that the way up is down. In short, a mother’s ambitious quest for her sons to be great threw Jesus’ entourage out of balance. So much that He had to deal with it. Are there no fights in the house of God today because of over-ambitious brethren who want to grab positions and posts of authority? Believe it, there are.
Sad to say that it has often led to ugly situations among brethren. “Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and asking something from Him. And He said to her, What do you wish? She said to Him, Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom. But Jesus answered and said, You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They said to Him, We are able. So He said to them, You will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father. And when the ten heard it, they were greatly displeased with the two brothers. But Jesus called them to Himself and said, You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many’ Matthew 20:20-28. Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth Him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great” Luke 9:48.
There is good, healthy ambition and there is bad, unhealthy ambition. Good ambition gives purpose, meaning, and significance to life, it builds drive, initiative, self-esteem and much more. The price of greatness is responsibility. Doing what you know how to do diligently and giving it your best. “Seest thou a man DILIGENT in his business? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men” Proverbs 22:9.
If you continue in mediocrity, struggle in the wilderness and absorbed in inconsequential projects you may fall short of God’s plan of greatness for your life. There are qualities expected of anyone who desire to be great according to God’s standard. We must all feel worthwhile yet true. Inner health comes only from serving God and others according to Jesus, not from position and power. Selfish ambition is false ambition. There is nothing wrong with high positions of responsibility, authority leadership and organization. However, all positions should exist not to lord it over people, but to serve people. We are to seek to serve God and people not seek to rule people. Our ambition should not be to lead only, but also to serve. There is a tremendous difference between leading and serving.
“And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted” Matthew 23:12. “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up” James 4:10. The Lord rewards those who obey and serve Him. Believe deep down in your heart that you're destined to do great things, live a life committed to serve others, be diligent in all your ways, humble yourself and God will give you greatness.