Chapter 1: The Misconception of Greatness

There are certain prayers that may go unanswered by Jesus, and you might wonder why I make such a statement. Let me clarify.

Don’t pray: “Father, make me great.”

In the Gospel of Matthew, we find an account where the mother of Zebedee’s sons approached Jesus with a request, kneeling before him. She asked, “Please grant that one of my sons sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.”

In response, Jesus asked, “Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?” They boldly replied, “We can.”

The cup he referred to was not a mere drinking vessel; it symbolized a brutal death. This cup represented the agony of his crucifixion, which he himself wished to avoid. In the Garden of Gethsemane, he prayed earnestly, “Take this cup from me.” It was the same cup he questioned the disciples about, highlighting their lack of understanding of the true cost of greatness.

The two disciples, James and John, would eventually endure tremendous suffering—James met a gruesome end being sawed in half, while John faced boiling oil.

But let's return to the core lesson. Jesus emphasized, “To sit at my right or left is not for me to grant.”

Do pray: “Lord, prepare me.”

Through this moment, Jesus imparted a crucial lesson on greatness: While aspiring to leadership is natural, one cannot simply petition God for such positions. Greatness is reserved for those whom God has prepared for it.

Each individual has a unique role crafted specifically for them. Once I grasped this, I ceased to worry about competition. It became clear that no one could occupy my space; it was inherently mine.

This understanding liberated me from envy and pride, affirming that I am destined for my place. Jesus may not respond to, “Lord, make me great,” but he will listen to, “Lord, prepare me.”

The Paradox of Servant Leadership

Jesus did not chastise his disciples for their desire for greatness; after all, we are created for significance. He gathered them and remarked, “You know that the rulers of this world love to dominate others. They seek control as if they own those they lead.”

True leadership, however, diverges from this approach. He cautioned against pursuing greatness through oppression or manipulation for personal gain.

“Instead, whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever desires to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve.”

Leaders are meant to be servants, a stark contrast to the prevailing philosophies of the time, which equated leadership with the number of people one commanded.

In God's kingdom, true leadership is gauged not by the number of servants one has but by how many individuals one serves. The more you serve, the greater you become.

Your greatness emerges from recognizing your unique gifts and sharing them with the world. This is where authentic leadership takes root.

However, this doesn’t imply becoming a doormat; rather, it means generously sharing your talents with humanity.

Takeaway: Serve Your Gifts

True greatness arises from serving others, not from a quest for power. Rather than vying for acknowledgment, concentrate on using your gifts to assist those around you.

Become a solution to problems. Your rightful place in the world is already designated for you by God. You are chosen for this, and no one can usurp your position.

Embrace this freedom. Accept your role as a servant, serving with love and compassion, and pour your heart into your endeavors.

When you pray, don’t ask God to make you great. Instead, seek God’s guidance to unveil your gifts so you can use them in service to the world. In doing so, you will be recognized as truly great.

© 2024 Kimberly Fosu.

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