SIMPLY REDEFINING GREATNESS
There seems to be so much thirst for fame, recognition and glamour in our generation. Everybody wants to be known by everybody, be a blessing to nobody, and be served by everybody. The sad part however is that, the god of this world is not the only one responsible for this menacing tendency in our time, the Church has contributed a sizeable quota to this situation. “You’ve got to dream big, do audacious things, make big moves, change the world, turn the world right side up”. Yeah those will actually happen eventually, and none of these is wrong if we get what the true meaning of greatness is.
What really is Greatness? Is greatness synonymous to fame, affluence or political power? Is greatness beauty, curves, grandeur, elegance or charisma? What is the appropriate yardstick for defining greatness? Who do we go to for the definition of greatness? Who else if not the TRUTH himself. Anything The Word(JESUS) has not revealed as truth, should not be considered as one, no matter who says it. So here’s Jesus’s perspective on Greatness.
“Luke 22:24-27
24 And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest. 25 And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. 26 But ye shall not be so:but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. 27 For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.”
The greatest person that ever lived redefined greatness for His disciples. He said it is not measured by the abundance of possession, but by the measure and depth of service. Greatness here was simply defined relative to service. You want to be great? Then serve. Jesus in John 13 having understood that all power was given to Him, and that He would return to the Father, laid aside His garment of glory and honour and served His disciples by doing the meanest job in the land of Israel; feet washing.(Not to become a doctrine to be made practice of, but a simple illustration of an act of service).
He told them if He didn’t serve them, then they were not part of Him. You have no part in anyone’s life, whom you’ve never served. Serve anybody and everybody. Just make sure you’re at the serving end. For it’s more blessed to give than to receive. Acts 20:35b. Quit wondering who gets the credit before men, or is applauded in church appreciation and simply serve. You might be the last back up singer for the super star soloist, but keep the heart of service, cos that’s the heart of greatness. Great things happen when we don’t care who takes the credit.
2Cor 10:18
18 For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.
Be the man God can count on. Serve with all your heart, not for notice or eye service, but for God to be pleased, because when He sees that, He says “Now that’s Greatness!”. Take a cue from Jesus. He wasn’t great because He was majestic and healed the sick, He was great because He became a man and died, He came to serve the world with His immaculate life. Being the man on the pulpit preaching has no bearing on the greatness of that man, his greatness lies in whether he lives to be served or to serve.
Live to serve, in no matter how little a way as it may seem, God observes it, He sees it, He sees your work and labour of love. Let’s stop this trophy hunt, and just get the job done. Keep the right attitude and become as great you can possibly be.
Col 3:23-24
23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; 24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance:for ye serve the Lord Christ.