Whoever Wants to Become Great
February/21/2008 Filed in: Daily Walk
Series
• New
Testament Reading: Mark 10:17-52
• Old Testament Passage: Ezekiel 22:30
• Points to Ponder
“Whoever Wants to Become Great”
Jesus once again turns another of the world’s most accepted and applied “truths” on its head! The
greatest among us is not the one who has gained the most education, fame, fortune or
accomplishments. The greatest is the one who serves the most. The ambition to be a great spiritual
leader is not to be discouraged -- no one becomes a spiritual leader by accident or without desire.
Paul wrote, “If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task” (1 Timothy 3:1).
But desiring leadership in the kingdom of God is about wanting to be, striving to be and then
actually living as, a servant -- someone who seeks to meets the needs of others. If someone wants
respect, recognition and reward in this life then spiritual leadership is not what he seeks. Leadership
in the kingdom of God is not about title and authority and power but about compassion and selfdenial
and service.
It is astonishing and it is scary to follow Jesus’ leadership model. It requires another “baptism”. It
should never be entered into without counting the cost. It is about serving till it hurts and then
serving some more. It is hard work, and long hours, and low (or no) pay. It is about imitating the
heart of Jesus, not by just doing some serving things but by taking on the nature of a servant and
living in order to help others make it to heaven. It is a cup that not even every disciple is ready,
willing or able to drink.
• Questions to Consider: How about you? Are you like James and John -- wanting to sit at
Jesus’ right or left in glory? Or do you hear in your heart the call to serve others even at great
cost to yourself? The church is always in need of those who will drink the cup of leadership.
Will you?
• Old Testament Passage: Ezekiel 22:30
• Points to Ponder
“Whoever Wants to Become Great”
Jesus once again turns another of the world’s most accepted and applied “truths” on its head! The
greatest among us is not the one who has gained the most education, fame, fortune or
accomplishments. The greatest is the one who serves the most. The ambition to be a great spiritual
leader is not to be discouraged -- no one becomes a spiritual leader by accident or without desire.
Paul wrote, “If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task” (1 Timothy 3:1).
But desiring leadership in the kingdom of God is about wanting to be, striving to be and then
actually living as, a servant -- someone who seeks to meets the needs of others. If someone wants
respect, recognition and reward in this life then spiritual leadership is not what he seeks. Leadership
in the kingdom of God is not about title and authority and power but about compassion and selfdenial
and service.
It is astonishing and it is scary to follow Jesus’ leadership model. It requires another “baptism”. It
should never be entered into without counting the cost. It is about serving till it hurts and then
serving some more. It is hard work, and long hours, and low (or no) pay. It is about imitating the
heart of Jesus, not by just doing some serving things but by taking on the nature of a servant and
living in order to help others make it to heaven. It is a cup that not even every disciple is ready,
willing or able to drink.
• Questions to Consider: How about you? Are you like James and John -- wanting to sit at
Jesus’ right or left in glory? Or do you hear in your heart the call to serve others even at great
cost to yourself? The church is always in need of those who will drink the cup of leadership.
Will you?