True Greatness

by Skip Heitzig | February 2, 2024

What does it mean to be great? The world would say a person is great if he or she has power, prestige, position, or possessions. But how is a person great in God's estimation? Well, God looks at all that and says, "Not so much." Jesus put it this way, "What is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God" (Luke 16:15). God isn't impressed with all that stuff. What the world sees as great, God calls vanity. And what the world despises, God will often extol.

Consider John the Baptist, an eccentric rabble-rouser with a single message: "Repent!" People wouldn't consider him great, but Jesus said, "Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist" (Matthew 11:11).

Now, most people in modern culture would not consider Daniel the prophet to be great. Yes, he made it up the ladder to become the prime minister of the Babylonian Empire, but he was despised and shamed as a Jewish captive. In Daniel 5, King Belshazzar brought all the wise men of Babylon before him, except Daniel. But Daniel was the one who received all the revelation about the future.

In God's estimation, Daniel was a great man. Let me suggest three qualities found in him. First, humility. He was a humble man who bowed before a great God. Second, he had singularity of focus, a one-track mind. In virtually every situation he found himself in, he pointed others to God. And third, he was consistent. He was faithful over time.

Kings don't impress God—He's the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Even King Solomon said, "I have attained greatness," but quickly added, "This also is grasping for the wind" (Ecclesiastes 1:16-17). Conquerors don't impress God—one day Jesus Christ will conquer the world He created. Jesus said, "For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?" (Matthew 16:26). Movie stars, rock stars, executives, and politicians—none of them impress God. There's only one type of person God would consider great.

Jesus said, "Whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant" (Mark 10:43). It's not the person who says, "I want to be the greatest!" It's the one who stoops and bows as a servant.

Humility says the way up is down. You want to be great? Bow, be a servant to people: to your wife, your husband, your coworkers, your friends. The greatest example is Jesus Christ "who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation" (Philippians 2:6-7). He humbled Himself and became a servant.

People like Alexander the Great and Cyrus the Great had power, prestige, position, and possessions, but that's where the greatness ends. Their names have gone down in history, but those who are truly great will have their names written in the Lamb's Book of Life forever.

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