A lot of people think that being a Christian means that one cannot aspire to be great. That is something many believe would be unchristian. But interestingly enough, when the "sons of thunder", James and John, two of Christ's disciples asked for positions of greatness, Christ did not rebuke them. Rather He asked if they were willing to do what it takes to be great. When the other ten disciples became indignant with Jesus and John, Christ called all of the disciples together and told them if they wanted to be great, they would have to become the servant of the others. Then He added that if any one of them wanted to be first among the group, he had to be the slave of them all.
Christianity is not anti-greatness.But Christ taught that the way up is the way down. Few Christians ever figure this out, and if they do, most are not willing to pay the price, which is servanthood.
People who accomplish great things, financially, politically, artistically, in sports or in business, are usually praised and revered by some, but criticized and downgraded by others. However, when someone is a true servant of all, no one has anything bad to say. That person is respected and appreciated by everyone who knows them.
Yesterday we had a memorial service at our church for a man that was not great in any conventional or worldly sense of the word. He was not an ordinary man, but he certainly wasn't great by the world's standards. However, everyone who spoke about him referenced the fact that he was a true servant. And most also stated that he was a great man. This is not surprising. It is exactly what our Lord taught. If you want to be great, be a servant. If you want to be the greatest, be the servant of all.
We need more Christians aspiring to greatness, and we need more Christians willing to pay the price of servanthood. This is, in fact, one of the most Christ-like things we can do. There is no greater person in the history of the world than Jesus Christ, and He was also the greatest servant of all.
As the Scripture says, "...the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."
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