"THE LEAST IS THE GREATEST"

And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, "If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all."

Mark 9:35

The world we live in and the kingdom of God are very different in many ways, one of which is how they view greatness. In this world, to be great means being really good at something, receiving awards and accolades, and having servants on one's payroll. On the other hand, greatness in heaven is the exact opposite.

When I started in the ministry as a pastor, I attended many conferences and was impressed by the "greatness" atmosphere I witnessed. Big crowds, skilled musicians, and compelling speakers caught my attention. In my heart, I dreamed of being one of those speakers, and even starting my conference someday. I thought that the bigger, the greater. I envied pastors who had apprentices who carried their Bibles and bottles of water. I was looking at things from a human, worldly perspective.

Jesus' disciples were no different. Three of them: Peter, James, and John had a unique experience of being with Jesus at the Transfiguration. This event perhaps fueled the argument among the disciples concerning greatness.

In our verse of the day, Jesus just finished predicting His death and resurrection. On their way to Capernaum, He heard the disciples discussing who among them was the greatest. When they reached their destination, Jesus sat down (the usual teaching position of a rabbi) and gave them a lesson about true greatness.

It’s quite noticeable that the disciples were more concerned about their statuses than the Lord's prophecy about His death and resurrection. They missed the Lord's words because they were too engrossed with prestige. To the Jews, matters of rank were of great importance. It was natural for them to be concerned about their standing in Jesus' Kingdom.

Jesus corrected their belief and told them something they never saw coming: the first must be the last. He used the word "servant" (diakonos), which refers to a person who serves others freely, not out of necessity as a slave would. In other words, a true servant serves because he wants to, not because he has to.

From a practical standpoint, we can demonstrate true greatness when we do what we do because we're doing it for the Lord (Ephesians 6:5-6). When we serve people out of our submission to Christ, we enjoy serving, we give it our best, and as a result, God is glorified and pleased.

God changed my mind, as well as my plans. He gave me the satisfaction of doing things for Him whether people honor me or not. I have learned that it doesn't matter if I pastored 1,000 members or served a congregation of 10 faithful Christians. I will leave this world happily and have a sense of fulfillment even if I don't turn out to be a speaker at huge conferences or have an assistant to carry my Bible and water bottle. After all, I do what I do not because I want to please thousands but only an audience of One, who will ultimately judge my work.

I encourage you to have a personal heart check and discover your motives for doing things. Keep in mind that if you want to be the greatest, you first have to be the least.

Pursue the Saviour today!