Who is the greatest?

Ali said he was but my chips are still on "Iron" Mike Tyson...
So how do you determine who is "great" in this world? Do you measure greatest by money, prestige, big homes, fast cars, big bank accounts, social status? "Beck, that's the worlds way!" Okay, let's spiritualize this abit. How do you measure greatness spiritually? The most annointed? The best put together sermon? The biggest buildings?

In Mark 9 Jesus questioned his disciples about a discussion they had while walking down the road. The disciples had kept quite because thier discussion had been about "who was the greatest among them". Can you think about how that discussion may have sounded? They were probably comparing each others "greatness" by who had prayed more, who knew the scriptures best, who had healed more diseases, cast out more devils, you get the picture!

But Jesus basically said, "Guys, you got it all wrong." "You got it backwards, you see yes all those things are great and important but if you really want to be great listen to this." "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all." POW! That had to hit them square in the face!

We live in a society that says, "Me first!" We want to be first in line, first at bat, first in competitions, first, first, first! We think greatness is measured by having people under us, telling others what to do, but if that is our mentallity we have it backwards!

Can you think of the "great" Mother Teresa (yes, she was Catholic) who decided to be "last", gave up her life, and lived to serve others! Not much to show for on this earth huh? But I can imagine when she stepped into heaven the angels might have said, "Step aside boys, this lady is coming to the front of the line!" She was great on earth! She served!

Take some time today and read more on servanthood in John 13. Find somebody today and serve! We reach those we serve!

Beck