Greatness

What is it that causes us to desire greatness? And what defines greatness in each of us?

We Christians sometimes blindside ourselves with failure don’t we? The idea that we are living ordinary lives, doing mundane tasks, melting into the masses, comes upon us like a chilling wind when the missionary family shares their stories at the pulpit. Or when Bo Baredo, God bless him, boisterously shouts God’s work advancing through the work of several missionaries. Or when we walk into a fair trade store like Ten Thousand Villages that helps the economies of third world countries. Or even when we step onto a college campus and see hundreds of students working so hard to achieve this… greatness.

It is true that some accomplish much in this world. What have they done differently? Followed their hearts? Maybe. I would suggest that they allowed themselves to be used. What type of connotation does that hold? Certainly not a good one. To be used means to completely give up control. We’ve all been used in an unhealthy relationship before – it’s never fun. We may even feel used at our place of work, how we serve at church, perhaps even by our families at times. Why would anyone ever want to be used, let alone want to allow it?

There is a drastic difference between one who is used by other people and one who is used by God. To be used by God means to surrender my will to His will. If God is who he says he is: Almighty, Creator, Most High, etc., then why would I strive to achieve greatness apart from Him? In fact, why would I strive to achieve greatness at all?

If God is who he claims to be, then God is greatness.

Throw off your old idea of greatness. Pursue God. Allow yourself to be used by Him. Live, and rejoice as you are sanctified through true Greatness. And soon you will see that He is your greatness, and everything else – regardless of your achievement, your fame, your money, your stature, your work, your lack thereof – will pale in comparison to the greatness of His work on the cross for you.

“Do not confuse notoriety and fame with greatness. . . . For you see, greatness is a measure of one’s spirit, not a result of one’s rank in human affairs.”
- Sherman Finesilver

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