“Do you want to stand out? Then step down. Be a servant.” Matthew 23:11 MSG.
God created you for greatness not mediocrity, for eternal purpose not popularity.
My thoughts and comments today ask, “prominent or important?”
The world has some important things upside down. One important thing the world has gotten wrong is about being important. Wanting to feel special and be noticed for that is not unusual. God made you with a desire to excel. You are important to God, a masterpiece of His own creation and intention. He has plans for you, a purpose more grand than you may yet realize resulting in your greatest fulfillment and others’ highest blessing. See Jeremiah 29:11 NIV.
Our common, fallen humanity struggles with some measure of insecurity that wrongly suggests that to be important others have to recognize you as such. If not careful, you then begin to live to please or impress others – doing what is expected by them, or conforming to them, or wanting the things that impress them. Even if you succeed, which only a few people will, what you end up with is never what you were seeking, never truly satisfying. You are not important because others think you are; you are important because God said you are.
It is possible to achieve prominence, but miss importance altogether. Consider a simple example differentiating between the two. Your nose has prominence; it’s right there, center stage for all to see. Far less prominent but much more important is your heart, unseen but reliably pumping blood and oxygen to every part of the body, sustaining life itself. The first is prominent; the latter is important.
The disciples quibbled about this, debating and even arguing about greatness. God created you for greatness, for individuality not mediocrity, for purpose not popularity. In your heart, you know that. The problem with the disciples’ reasoning and conclusions, and with yours and mine usually, is that they are just plain wrong. The path they were choosing would not lead to their goal. See Matthew 20:20-23 NKJV.
Jesus said, “Do you want to stand out? Then step down. Be a servant.” Matthew 23:11 MSG. My friend, Campbell, often advised, “If you want to know how you are doing as a servant, watch your reaction when someone treats you like one.” Wise words from a Godly man. Jesus taught that true greatness, therefore real importance, is evidenced by living everyday with the heart and hands of a servant. Greatness is never accurately measured by prominence or power over others. Yet that seems counter to everything that feels natural. Jesus said, “Whoever desires to be great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave – just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:26-28.
Jesus did not condemn the desire; He just corrected the strategy. Others may admire your success and even applaud and reward it, but their applause will be ultimately meaningless. God’s way is always the best way; really, it’s the only way. To truly stand out, you must be willing “to step down, and be a servant.” Serve God and others. Give God the prominence; let God grant you importance.
My prayer for you is that you stand out for all the right reasons, and in the best regard.