If You Want to Be Great
“But whoever would be great
among you must be your servant”
The request of the mother of James and John in Matthew 20 is something I think a lot of us can relate to: The longing for significance and recognition. And it wasn’t just James, John, and their mother, when the other disciples heard, they were indignant, probably because they wanted the same position themselves. Jesus’ response completely turns our idea of greatness upside down. In His kingdom, the greatest are not those seeking position or recognition but those who serve.
When Becci and I were starting the house of prayer in Manchester, we often had people reach out to say they were worship leaders and could come lead worship for us. Our response was always the same: we’d invite them to come and join us in the prayer room first, to see what it was all about, and to pray alongside the rest of us. Over and over, we found that when the invitation wasn’t to the stage but simply to serve in prayer, those same people would disappear and we wouldn’t hear from them again.
This experience served as a reminder that, as humans, we have a tendency to want to be seen. But Jesus is inviting us to something deeper. His response to James and John’s mother, and to the indignation of the disciples, was the call to serve. Greatness was not about being at the front, being seen, being platformed, being recognized, but instead was about humility and service. And Jesus didn’t simply preach this, He lived it. “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mt. 20:28). The very Word of God, the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Alpha and Omega, humbled himself to the point of death for our sake. And He invites us into greatness before Him by choosing to serve those around us.
Paul echos this in Philippians 2:3-4, urging us to “do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” When we choose humility and service, even in unseen ways, we are walking in the way of Jesus.
Responding to God's Call to Serve
Think about the roles you play in your family, workplace, church, or community. Where is God inviting you to choose humility and to serve regardless of recognition? Is there someone you can encourage this week by putting their needs first? Is there an unnoticed task you could take on as an act of worship to Jesus?
When we follow Jesus’ example, even the smallest acts of service become a reflection of His love towards us.
Jesus, thank You for the way you love. Thank You for coming to earth not to lord over us but as the Servant King.
Thank You for showing us what true greatness looks like. I’m sorry for the times I’ve sought recognition and
position over humility and service. Help me to follow your example. Help me to serve those around me,
and to trust in your leadership and wisdom. Make me more like You. Amen