Serve Your Way to Greatness

Daily Devotional – Tuesday, April 6, 2021

Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.

Matthew 20:26 (NIV)

Mrs. Zebedee was not taking any chances. The competition for the top seats in Christ’s earthly government would be stiff, she guessed.

She brought John and James before Christ and requested, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.” Matthew 20:21. Make one your Vice-President, the other, the Prime Minister. Jesus declined her prayer.

The news reached the other disciples and “A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest.” (Luke 22:24).  Apparently, all the twelve were birds of a feather.

Jesus had to call an urgent meeting to sort the mess. By the time the fire was extinguished, He had taught one of the greatest principles of His kingdom – servant-leadership.

Among the ruling Romans, masters issued commands that were to be obeyed, unquestioningly, by servants. “Not so with you,” Jesus told His disciples. “Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.” (Matthew 20:26).

How ridiculous that might have sounded to the disciples? The words ‘great’ and ‘servant’ could not be used in the same sentence those days. Jesus taught that service and humility are the keys to greatness in the kingdom of God.

Instead of competing for public attention and positions of power, we should lead souls to Christ. Instead of competing to show off our worldly possessions, we should lift more people out of poverty and misery.

Like John the Baptist, let us declare, of Christ and our fellow men, “He must become more important while I become less important.” (John 3:30 – GNB).

Father, make me a genuine servant-leader.