SO YOU WANT TO BE GREAT?
MATTHEW 20:24-28
MATTHEW 20:24-28 NKJ
24 And when the ten heard it, they were greatly displeased with the two brothers. 25 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. 26 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. 27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
I am not sure if this is the first example of a helicopter mom, but the storyline sounds familiar.
James and John's mother went to Jesus along with her sons to ask Him a favor for her boys. She wanted them to have the preeminent places of power on the right and left hand of Jesus. Jesus told her that was not His call. But the whole request did not sit well with the other ten disciples. They were not just ticked off; they were greatly ticked off at James and John.
Jesus used this scenario for a teaching moment on greatness. He said that greatness in His Kingdom would look different than how the world's system operated. In the world, the most powerful are the ones who lord it over everyone else. But in His Kingdom, for followers of Jesus, the great ones were the ones who served others. Then Jesus used Himself as the Supreme example. He did not come to be served. He was not on earth to be bowed down to. But He came to serve and bless humanity and even give His life so that we could be free. And no one is greater than He.
APPLICATION
The road to greatness in God's Kingdom is still exactly how Jesus set it up to be.
It's still about serving and helping people. And a willingness to take a job that does not seem important but is still valuable in God's eyes.
When I came back to Lakewood Church from Bible School, I was certain they would give me a position teaching an adult Bible class. But a wise older associate pastor sent an ambitious 25 year old into the Children's Church to work crowd control with 5th and 6th-grade boys. This role certainly seemed like "laying down my life." But I am convinced if I had never done that job, I would not be a senior pastor today. My role today does not make me great. It only allows me the privilege of serving and helping more people. Actually, Jesus is the only true Great One, the rest of us are support cast.
PRAYER
Thank You, Father, that Your Kingdom does not operate by power trips. Equip me to serve and bless others even more.