So-and-So, The Great

Alexander, king of Macedonia.
Antiochus III, ruler of the Seleucid Empire.
Charlemagne, Emperor of Rome.
Cyrus I, founder and ruler of the Persian Empire.
Henry IV, king of France.
Ivan III, czar of Russia.
Ramesses II, pharaoh of Ancient Egypt.

Who are all of these people? Every one of these men are leaders whose names has been given the suffix, "The Great." Each one of them was considered by their people (or themselves) to be so impressive that they slapped this massive adjective to the end of their name. Each one of them was considered to have stood above everyone else of their time because of the many acts of conquest, valor and, majesty that they accomplished.

Like the followers of these "Great"s, I think we often measure people with similar scales. If you have earned a lot of money, you are considered great. If you accomplish a ton of really hard things, you are considered great. If you win a bunch of competitions, you are considered great. If you win wars, you are even greater. And every time, the title "Great" goes to those who have put everyone else below them to become the best and the most powerful and to get everything the world has to offer. But this is not how Jesus ever thought about greatness.

In fact, in Mark 10:42-45, says that the measure for greatness looks vastly different. It is completely upside down. Those who are truly great are the Mother Teresa's, the George Mueller's, the A21 Campaign's of this world. Those who are truly great are the ones who give away their lives and their kingdoms to serve others. These are people who don't need to take selfies to prove that they exist. Instead, they let their lives speak for themselves, and let the others photograph it. These are the people who give their lives to serving, and realize that this life is not about them. Jesus said that the servant of all is really the greatest among us.

So I wonder about you?

In what areas of your life are you trying to be impressive to others, striving to stand above others, and to accumulate a massive list of accomplishments?

Maybe it is time to give those things away, and start a living a life that is truly great. Maybe it is time to start serving as many people as possible and see the lives, communities, and world transformed around you.

I challenge you to be truly great today. Anyone has the capacity to be great because anyone has the capacity to live for the good of others. You can can be a servant. You can be great. Be greater than you have ever been!