Who Wants to be Great?

Who wants to be great?

Who among us doesn’t want to be great, or do something worthwhile, or at least be a part of something amazing?  It seems like we live in a culture fascinated with celebrity.  We see this with the success of shows like TMZ and the myriad of ET like shows.  It has even shown up with the plethora of shows where the average Joe can reach celebrity status almost overnight.  A great example of this would be Melissa Rycroft who became famous enough to be on dancing with the “stars” after one season on the Bachelor.  But we all know that being famous doesn’t make someone great, don’t we?  What happens when this desire to reach celebrity like status reaches the church?  People seem to get their priorities all out of wack, they see the stage as the pinnacle of Spirituality, and that after having reached that pinnacle they should remain there as though they were royalty. 

 

The reality is that those who lead and those who teach bear a greater judgment.  It isn’t just people in our day who have this issue.  Even Jesus’ disciples struggled with the idea of being great, and knowing what it takes to get there.  Look at how Jesus handles this: 

 

Matthew 20:20-28 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. 21And he said to her, "What do you want?" She said to him, "Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom." 22Jesus answered,  "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?" They said to him, "We are able." 23He said to them,  "You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father." 24And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers. 25But Jesus called them to him and said,  "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 26 It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 27and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, 28even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

 

Jesus sets the perfect example of what it truly means to be great.  He came to serve and to ultimately give His life for us.  So if we as Christians are suppose to be like Him then doesn’t that mean that we need to be a group of servants?  We want Journey the Way to be a movement of servants, not a gathering of consumers or celebrity seekers.  Would you consider joining the movement?

 

Chad Pearce