Aspiring to Greatness

I aspire to greatness. Does this surprise you or strike you as something sinful? May I say in response: O that all men would do likewise! Someone is asking, "Can Christians really do that? Don't you know that the Christian life is one of sacrifice and humility." As a matter of fact I do. Let me ease the shock and clear up the confusion. First, we need to dispel the notion that greatness is bad. Consider two Old Testament examples and what the Lord told them.

Abraham - And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. (Genesis 12:2)
David - And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. (2 Samuel 7:9b)

Both of these men received unconditional promises from God that their names would be great. And what was the basis of the bestowal of this generosity? God's good pleasure. As David tells himself it,

Because of your promise, and according to your own heart, you have brought about all this greatness, to make your servant know it. (2 Samuel 7:21)

So God certainly bestows greatness on whom he wills, but can someone aspire or attain to greatness? That is the real question, and one his own disciples asked. Late in Jesus' earthly ministry, James and John (with their mother [Matthew 20:20-28]) approach him with a request:

And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you." And he said to them, "What do you want me to do for you?" And they said to him, "Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory." Mark 10:35-37)

Talk about audacity, but what else would one expect from two brothers nicknamed "Sons of Thunder?" This was the same pair who previously had asked the Lord if they should call down fire from heaven to destroy a Samaritan village who had rejected Christ (Luke 9:54). At this previous occasion in Samaria, the Lord's response was to turn and rebuke. They needed a strong word. This time he reacts somewhat differently.

Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?" And they said to him, "We are able." And Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized, but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared." And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. (Mark 10:38-41)

No doubt about it, these two had moxie. They had seen John's end at the hands of Herod, so there was no preconception of an easy life. And they had both been enabled to perform some mighty signs in Galilee while spreading the gospel of the kingdom. They were certain of being able to pass throgh whatever lay ahead. Notice that Jesus agrees they will have to endure things. He gives the impression that they will finish their earthly life well. As for the high places next to the throne, that has already been promised. Now the other disciples have their collective noses out of joint because these brothers asked for such a favor. Maybe it is jealousy. After all, the twelve had been together for quite awhile, and Peter was part of Jesus' closest men. He saw and did things most of the others did not. The Lord sets the matter straight.

And Jesus called them to him and said to them, "You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."  (Mark 10:42-45)

He gives an example of Gentile leaders and their philosophy of rule, the iron fist, and tells the twelve that things will be different for them. What does he say? "But whoever would be great among you..." Jesus does not chastise any of them for aspiring to greatness, not once. What he does is instruct them on how to be great: be the servant and slave of all.

Aspiring to greatness does not mean that we are seek our own glory. There is an important difference. James and John appear to have fallen into that somewhat. They acknowledged that the glory belonged to Jesus, but they wanted to be identified with it as much as possible. All glory belongs to God. He does not share with another.

I fell into the same thinking myself when as a younger believer, I thought I was God's gift to the Sunday School program and Youth leadership. After much maturing I have realized that the greatest satisfaction is the time and energy poured into others of whom I have had the privilege to help in their respective lives. Looking back I can appreciate what Paul said of the church at Philippi, "you are my joy and crown."

Yes, I aspire to greatness, but it is the greatness brought about by pouring myself into younger men and women and helping them grow in the grace knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.