Despite our many assumptions true greatness is not tied to our level of social prominence or prestige. Nor is the good life merely about maximizing our fun and happiness. While these are not inherently bad things, true greatness comes from our service to others. And it’s here we find our most fulfilling life as well.
Health, wealth, status, and otherwise social success often top the list of our spontaneous desires. And the assumption of happiness is close behind these pursuits.
To be fair, these achievements do come with degrees of happiness. But these achievements don’t necessarily make us great nor do they make life worth living.
Per usual, Jesus flips many of our basic human assumptions upside down and teaches that the greatest among us must be a servant.
This gives us a new definition of greatness. And it’s also the secret to living a meaningful life.
While we all have different talents and abilities, we’ve all been called to use our gifts in a service beyond ourselves – participating with God to bring more life and goodness into the world.
And so whether we’re the butcher, baker, or candlestick maker – we’ve been called to greatness because we’ve been called to serve.
And it’s through service that we find our deepest satisfaction – fulfilling our potential and becoming the best version of ourselves.
It’s tempting to strive for greatness in all the conventional ways. And we’re often left frustrated and confused when all our achievements don’t bring the sustained happiness we expected.
On the other hand, the greatness that comes through humble service is not natural. But it’s through this good we open the door to lasting peace, joy, and deep gratification in our souls.
Become great by humbly using your strength to serve.
Photo by Adrià Crehuet Cano on Unsplash
