Our idea of greatness and God's idea of greatness are two opposite thoughts. We measure greatness by our success in our jobs, our degrees held or owning fine homes or vehicles. Pride swells up in us and we become a little arrogant thinking we have arrived and people take notice. All the while, it escapes our notice, "God is opposed to the proud!" (Jam. 4:6) The "pride of life" will cost us our relationship with the Lord and our souls in the end. (I John 3:15-17)
The last night of Jesus' life before His crucifixion, he sat at a table with thirteen men. He knew His hour had come (John 13:1). Luke tells us the apostles were disputing among themselves which one of them was the greatest (Luke 22:24). Poor, poor us! What did Jesus do? He showed them God! He arose from the supper, laid aside His outer garments, took a towel and washed His disciples feet. Peter protested at first (John 13:6). It seemed awkward for their Master, the One who walked on water, defied nature, gave life to the dead and healed many who were sick, to be on His knees washing dirty feet!! That's not greatness of a leader in the eyes of man. That's a lowly servants job! That's a job for the 'nobodies' who can't do better!
What does this teach us? In God's eyes, real spiritual minded people are servants. Service is the very heart of God and Jesus. The Creator of the world, the Holy One who called things into existence that never existed, who has all power and demonstrates that power, came into a world in the form of weak and feeble man. He died the death of a criminal, while shamed in the eyes of mankind. He had a following like no other. Multitudes upon multitudes crowded around Him. In all this, He served! He looked for ways he could serve the lives of others. The God of heaven and earth was on His knees washing the feet of His creation!
How much effort do we place on looking good in the eyes of others? What you do and what you go after reveals where your heart is set. What you love the most is shown in what you dedicate your life for and what you sacrifice for. I've watched numerous people destroy themselves because they go after the finest things in life, thinking it sets them apart as being somebody, only to lose it all because their lusts overextend them. They give little thought to service and great efforts toward externals. The pride of life is not from God, but from the world and it will cost many a person their souls. So...how do you view greatness?
1 comment:
My view is that God, in all His glory, is complete and absolute greatness.
Man cannot achieve any form of greatness. When I thinking something that man has done might be great, I spend some time reading God’s responses to Job when Job questions God in order to bring things back into a proper perspective. God is greatness. Man is not.
Only through our mediator, Jesus, can man even approach God. It is only through Christ and the keeping of his commandments and practicing his example that we can realize the greatness which is God.
To that, the only greatness in this physical life is to worship and serve God, through Christ, with all my heart and soul. In order to do that, I must have a humble heart where pride has no place. To serve should always be a pleasure and a desire. Anything else is unacceptable.
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