by Jacob Ninan
There are two needs in the human heart that are so hidden that most people would not recognise them unless somebody told them. We all want to know that there are people who love us and who will be there to help us when we need them. When this need is met, we feel very secure. On the other hand, we all want to feel recognised for our abilities, skills, achievements, etc., so that we can feel valued. When these two needs are met, we feel there is a value for our life. When people reject us, our self-image gets hit, and we get the feeling that no one cares for us or values us.
The way to meet these needs in a way that does not depend on the vagaries of people is to depend on God. When we know that God loves us so much that He was willing to give His Son for us so that we can be reconnected with him, and that He loves us in spite of knowing all our failures and weaknesses, it makes us feel really secure. When we know from the parable of the lost sheep that He would have come looking for us even if we were the only sinner on earth, that makes us realise how much He values us.
But instead of depending on God, most people try to draw their comfort and strength from people. They seek to do many things or achieve great heights in order to impress people and gain their respect. They try to get recognition for their wealth, possessions, appearance, abilities, skills, titles, designations, etc. This becomes a lifelong pursuit after greatness before people, and this need becomes the driving force in their lives. However, this becomes so overarching in their lives that in the process they neglect their health, family and children, and they will suffer the adverse results later.
Jesus asks, "How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the one and only God?" (Jn.5:44). It is greatness before God that we ought to seek, instead of before people. Jesus points out that if we don't do this, it is even possible that we have not believed in Him in the right way.
When the disciples of Jesus started trying to figure out who was the greatest among them, Jesus taught them that the one who sought to serve everyone was the greatest (Mk.9:34,35). Greatness in the sight of God is not one where people could exercise authority over others, but in serving others (Matt.20:25,26). This heart of service is not about showing off our 'humility' in front of others, like politicians sweeping the road in front of the TV cameras, but about sincerely seeking to meet the need we see around us.
The example that Jesus gave us is the greatest. "The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many" (Matt.20:28). The Creator of the universe saw our need, gave up His equality with the Father, became a Man, and gave His life for us in order to restore us to Him. He allowed Himself to be mocked, insulted, spat upon, beaten, scourged and finally crucified by those whom He had created. Instead of demanding worship for His greatness, He came to serve us.
We don't know much about what all the eleven apostles of Jesus did after His resurrection, but we do know a lot about Paul, his life and the way he carried out his ministry. 1Cor.9:14-19 mentions about his attitude towards ministering to the people. He wanted to do it freely without seeking any benefit for himself, even though he was entitled to it as an apostle. He saw himself as someone who had been shown great grace by his Master, and he served Him out of love and gratitude. He had to go through a lot of suffering for it, through being beaten, stoned, shipwrecked, imprisoned, etc., but what drove him to go on was his sincere care for the people.
But now what we see around us are people who call themselves servants of God, but who are trying to exalt themselves through fancy titles, designations, costumes, etc. We see pastors who have other people to carry their Bible, iPad, water bottle, etc., and who walk like kings. Some dress like kings with a sceptre in their hand and allowing people to kiss their hand! They like to get special seats on the platform at every function, and get greatly offended if they are not invited. A 'minister' means a servant, and these people imagine they are in 'ministry' while their actual aim is to become great in the sight of man.
The spirit of Christ is very different from the spirit of Satan. When Lucifer was the chief of the angels at one time, he thought too much about himself and wanted to exalt himself to be equal with God (Isa.14:14). Now, as Satan, he is trying to draw all people in the same direction. The Pharisees of the days of Jesus had partaken of this same spirit. Jesus said about them, "But they do all their deeds to be noticed by men; for they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen the tassels of their garments. They love the place of honor at banquets and the chief seats in the synagogues, and respectful greetings in the market places, and being called Rabbi by men. But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. Do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ. But the greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted" (Matt.23:5-12). We can see the same spirit being active now too, with people seeking and enjoying impressing others with their greatness, adding on special titles to themselves, etc., in spite of the strict warning Jesus gives here.
But the spirit of Christ is quite the opposite. "The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many" (Matt.20:28). That is the kind of greatness we are to follow. Another mark of the greatness that Jesus teaches us is that we ought to be careful to teach people even the least of God's commandments and keep them ourselves (Matt.5:19). If we are scared of offending someone with the truth, we are more interested in the honour before people than God. Faithfulness before God is what makes us truly great, and not what people think about us.
Another way Jesus describes greatness is, "Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven" (Matt.18:4). The special thing about a child is that he doesn't have any pretence, but how he behaves is how he is in his nature. He knows he is small and that he doesn't know everything. So, to become humble like that, we must learn that it must become our nature and not just put on to impress people.
When God sees in us such an attitude of humility, He rewards us by granting us revelation of His ways (Lk.10:21). He will also 'exalt' us by granting us His nature and sometimes by giving us more responsibility in His kingdom (Jas.4:10). May we learn to live before God in humility and serve the others with an attitude of being the least.