Bullets for the Battle

The Bullet of Service: As God Counts Greatness

The story is told of a small religious school that was having financial difficulties, even though their spiritual and academic standards had remained very high. One day a very wealthy businessman came on campus. He walked up to a white-haired man in overalls who was painting the walls of the administration building and asked him where he could find the president. The painter pointed to a large, two-story house at the end of the campus and said he was sure that the president could be seen there at noon.

At the designated time, the visitor knocked at the president’s door and to his amazement was admitted by the same white-haired man, though now differently attired. The painter was the president! The visitor accepted an invitation to have lunch with the painter-president, asked a number of questions about the needs of the college, and told him he would get back in touch with him.

Two days later a letter arrived at the president’s office. Enclosed was a check for $50,000 and a note that read, “I am sending this gift, not because of your personal achievements and awards, but because you are a servant.”

It is this same principle that God uses to elevate our lives and measure “greatness.” God’s basis of “greatness” is very foreign to our way of life. In the world’s system, “great” men are those who exercise authority over others. “Great” men are those who can tell others what to do. They possess power. They possess authority. They possess clout.

However, Jesus said, “it is not so among you.” In fact, God’s evaluation of greatness is the complete opposite. In the eyes of God, true greatness is not being served, but serving others. The world equates greatness with being over others. God equates greatness with being under others. In God’s kingdom, the way up is down. The way to “live it up” is to first live it down … by serving the needs of others.