Seeking After Greatness

Greatness. If everyone in your workplace, on your bus, in your family, or at your gym were to compile a list, "Five Great People," I would theorize, not a single list would match another. How can people who share such similar lives, areas, or goals have such differing opinions? Part of the issue lies in our definition of greatness. What makes a person great? How does greatness manifest itself?

I once told my husband I wanted him to be a "great" man, not just a good one. He looked a bit hurt at the time. (My delivery is not always without wounds.) My point, however, was heartfelt. I have a desire for my husband to be the best man he can possibly be. Not just for me, although, I would certainly benefit; not just for the children, though they, too would reap rewards; but for humanity. Humanity? Wow, Lady, you don't give a guy a break, do you? I know it might sound a bit ungrateful -- after all, what do I expect from a man, working hard, coming home each day to a busy family, going to church on Sundays, just trying to find time to mow the lawn and change the oil? How is he supposed to have enough life left in him to save the world and change the course of history? But, I truly want that for him.

You see, greatness is a small thing. Greatness is the pebble that, when dropped into the pond, will ripple across the surface, stirring everything in its path. Look at the increasingly large circle of ripples one small pebble can create. Nothing within its perimeter is left unaffected, though the pebble itself falls to rest somewhere below the waters, in the muck and mire of the bottom of the pond, hidden and as unremarkable as any other stone. The pebble on its own becomes of no consequence, but the impact it has on its environment is profound.

Jesus says greatness manifests itself in love and selflessness. One of the most beautiful and personally challenging passages of Scripture comes through Paul in Philippians 2:1-8:

"Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
"Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross."

If we truly believe that, in Christ, we have peace and comfort, that all things work together for our good, that the Holy Spirit resides in our hearts, sanctifying and maturing us in the faith, leading and supplying us with all we need to do all He purposes for us to do, then as brothers and sisters, joined in the family of God by our like belief, let us get along to the point of esteeming others better than ourselves, look out for one another, serve one another as Christ served us, humble and selfless, obedient always to the Father, to the point of death, certainly the death of ourselves and the life of Christ in us. Is there any other greatness that one would lay down his life for another? Is there any other greatness we would model but the greatness of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?

All over the globe martyrs are honored, people who died for the betterment of others. The whole of civilization realizes the greatness in the giving of self. I challenge you today as I challenge myself to serve and esteem others, knowing that obedience to that which the Lord commands will be honored and those who obey will be blessed. In Jesus' name.