Learn to Be a Servant of All
A while ago I was talking with a very successful older man who said to me, "Can I tell you what the greatest thing in my life has been? As I look back, the thing that has brought me the most joy, happiness, and fulfillment has been to be able to use my position, wealth, and influence to help other people." He could have told me about all his achievements, but that was not it. The satisfaction of the smile on his face told me the story of how he was able to use his company to sow seeds of blessings into other people's lives.
Inside every one of us is the God-given desire to succeed and to achieve in life. It started when He told Adam, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion..." (Genesis 1:28). But it's a mistake to think that achievement and success are what cause us to be great in the kingdom of God or what will bring us fulfillment and happiness. I believe that God wants us to accomplish great things, but He wants us to do it with the right heart. Jesus' concept of greatness in those who follow Him is found in serving others. Indeed, He set the standard: "Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Matthew 20:28).
It can be hard to wrap our head around servanthood and a great life. Our culture doesn't teach us that servanthood is the key to success. What we see is people manipulating others, stepping over people, and doing things to try to gain more authority and power. But Jesus gave us the ultimate example of greatness at the Last Supper with the disciples in John 13. When He overheard some of the disciples disputing among themselves about who was the greatest, Jesus did something profound to show His disciples the meaning of greatness. He reminded them that He was among them "as one who serves" (Luke 22:27), and then He washed their feet. The message He wanted them to understand before He left this earth was that service is the greatest thing in the kingdom of God.
I think that most people aren't fulfilled because they're thinking about themselves--their own dreams, their own desires, their own problems. If you want to see a life of greatness, a life well lived, a life that makes a difference in this world, God wants you to know that it's through your service. It's through your giving; it's through stooping down when it's not convenient and washing other people's feet that you will be made great. Let your life shine in greatness!
Inside every one of us is the God-given desire to succeed and to achieve in life. It started when He told Adam, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion..." (Genesis 1:28). But it's a mistake to think that achievement and success are what cause us to be great in the kingdom of God or what will bring us fulfillment and happiness. I believe that God wants us to accomplish great things, but He wants us to do it with the right heart. Jesus' concept of greatness in those who follow Him is found in serving others. Indeed, He set the standard: "Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Matthew 20:28).
It can be hard to wrap our head around servanthood and a great life. Our culture doesn't teach us that servanthood is the key to success. What we see is people manipulating others, stepping over people, and doing things to try to gain more authority and power. But Jesus gave us the ultimate example of greatness at the Last Supper with the disciples in John 13. When He overheard some of the disciples disputing among themselves about who was the greatest, Jesus did something profound to show His disciples the meaning of greatness. He reminded them that He was among them "as one who serves" (Luke 22:27), and then He washed their feet. The message He wanted them to understand before He left this earth was that service is the greatest thing in the kingdom of God.
I think that most people aren't fulfilled because they're thinking about themselves--their own dreams, their own desires, their own problems. If you want to see a life of greatness, a life well lived, a life that makes a difference in this world, God wants you to know that it's through your service. It's through your giving; it's through stooping down when it's not convenient and washing other people's feet that you will be made great. Let your life shine in greatness!