BECOMING GREAT
- Matthew 20:20-28
If you look at this passage, and the passages surrounding it, it is easy to get upset with the disciples, especially with James and John, for their narrow-mindedness, for their inappropriateness, and for their poor timing. In this passage we find Jesus is in the last week of His life before His crucifixion. In fact, in the verses immediately proceeding these, Jesus predicts His death for the third time. And yet, the disciples seem disinterested, and distracted. Instead of questioning Jesus about His upcoming death, instead of talking to Jesus and attempting to comfort Him, 2 of the disciples, with their mother, ask Jesus for positions of prominence in His new kingdom. Then the other 10, because of their own ambitions, get upset with the first two.
What surprised me, as I studied this passage, however, was Jesus’ response to their desire for prominence, their desire for greatness. I would have probably busted their chops and told them they had their minds in the wrong place. But Jesus didn’t respond that way. Instead He says in verse 26 “whoever wants to be first among you.” In other words, Jesus says, “It’s OK to want to be great.” There are several items I notice in this passage, that teach us about greatness.
I. GOD’S PEOPLE SHOULD BE GREAT
Not only do God’s people desire to be great, but God’s people should be great. They should be great for several reasons.
1. God’s people have help others don’t have -
- John 14:17
We have at our disposal, everything else the world has, education, training, etc. but we also have something other people in the world don’t. We have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us. We have a strength, a resource, the world does not have.
- James 1:5 Now, if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him.
2. God’s people have a responsibility others don’t have
> 2 Corinthians 5:20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, …
> 1 Corinthians 10:31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for God’s glory.
Paul says, do everything you do, for God’s glory. In other words, you and I are to seek greatness. We are to seek excellence in everything we do.
- Revelation 3:15-16
Jesus can’t stand mediocrity. It makes Him sick. God’s people, desire to be great.
I cannot understand people who at work, or in anything, settle for doing just enough to get by. They work just enough to get by. They serve their boss, just enough to keep their job. They try to figure out what Jesus will accept, how little they can do, and how much compromise they can have in their Christian walk and still get by. They want to know, “Is it OK if I do this?” “How much to I have to read my Bible?” “How much time should I pray?” “They look for the minimums.”
My friends, God’s people should desire to be great. We should desire to be the best employee we can. We should desire to be the best athlete we can. We should desire to be the best Christian we can, because it brings glory to God.
3. God’s people have a mission others don’t have
- Matthew 28:18-20
Do you realize the great mission God has given us? Not only do we have a responsibility others don’t have, but we also have a mission others don’t have. We are to be missionaries for Jesus Christ in all we do.
When Jesus left, His plan for the salvation of the world was that you and I would share His message. We are given the responsibility of telling other people about God’s love. We are given the responsibility of telling others how they can be saved.
If a medical scientist can take his job of researching a cure for cancer, or aids seriously; if he can take meticulous notes and strive to work with excellence; how can we do any less? We have the cure for the ills of the world. …
God’s people should be great. But, God’s people seek greatness in God’s eyes.
II. GOD’S PEOPLE SEEK GREATNESS IN GOD’S EYES
- Matthew 20:25 – 26a
Jesus says, this is the way the world seeks greatness. This is what greatness means in the world. That is not the way you measure greatness. You, instead, should seek greatness in God’s eyes.
- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18
We don’t seek greatness or recognition from the world, instead, Christians seek greatness in God’s eyes. We seek to please God. We work for an audience of One.
GOD’S ROAD TO GREATNESS
Those in the world seek to become great by traveling many different paths. Some seek greatness by self-promotion. You can tell them. They are always talking about what they have done or what they have accomplished. They look for a pat on the back.
Jesus says, “That’s not the way to become great.”
Some look for titles and degrees, seeking the world’s stamp of approval.
- Matthew 23:8-12
That’s not the way to greatness in God’s kingdom.
Some seek to find advancement, or greatness by pulling strings. James & John did that when they had their mother, Jesus’ aunt, ask for special positions for them. Jesus says, “That’s not the way.”
No, the road to greatness in God’s kingdom comes through:
1. Childlike Humility
- Matthew 23:11-12
> John 15:5 … you can do nothing without Me.
2. Decisive Commitment
- Matthew 16:24-25
Greatness doesn’t come from floating on the peripheral. It comes through a decisive commitment. I will be a disciple. I will pay whatever price in necessary. …
3. Continual Obedience
- Matthew 5:19
Not, obeying Christ once in a while. Not picking & choosing among the commands of Jesus to decide which ones you will obey. Not an on again, off again, love affair with Jesus. Robert Murray McCheyne, a preacher from years past once said, “My people’s greatest need is my personal holiness.” Greatness requires continual obedience.
4. Sacrificial Service
- Matthew 23:11-12
> Mark 9:35 If anyone wants to be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.
Lenski once said, “Great men are not sitting on top of lesser men, but bearing lesser men on their backs.”
“The cost of true greatness is humble, selfless, sacrificial service. The Christian who desires to be great and first in the kingdom is the one who is willing to serve in the hard place, the demanding place, the place where he is not appreciated and may even be persecuted. Knowing that time is short and eternity is long, he is willing to spend and be spent. He is willing to work for excellence without becoming proud, to withstand criticism without becoming bitter, to be misjudged without becoming defensive, to withstand suffering without succumbing to self-pity.” (The MacArthur NT Commentary, MT. 16-23. Chicago: Moody, 1988. 243).
Greatness is found in the nursery worker, who serves behind the scenes, seldom seen, but realizing the importance of the great mission she has been given. Greatness is found in the person who teaches, and who works hours no one ever sees, preparing to teach people about Jesus. Greatness is found in those who set up the church facilities and who mow the grass; even though few ever see and most just accept the fact that those jobs are done.
Great servants do not sit around grumblingly thinking:
Why do I have to do everything around here?
Isn’t someone else supposed to be doing this, anyway?
Why are we always so short of workers?
Can’t they see that I am already too busy?
Don’t they realize I have a full plate already?
Great servants ask like Paul did at his conversion, "Lord what will you have me to do?" They ask, "What can I do to help out?"
Jesus says, “Greatness requires sacrificial service.”
“Dave Thomas, the founder of Wendy’s, once appeared on the cover of their annual report dressed in a knee-length work apron holding a mop and a plastic bucket. Here’s how he described that picture: “I got my M.B.A. long before my G.E.D. At Wendy’s M.B.A. does not mean Master of Business Administration. It means Mop Bucket Attitude.” Dave Thomas got his M.B.A. from following the model of the Master.” (Brain Bill, Becoming a Servant).
