How to achieve greatness

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I’m sure you have all heard of the Dead Sea. It’s called the Dead Sea for a reason. The Dead Sea contains no life, no plant life and no animal life. Why? Because nothing flows out of it. Water pours into the Dead Sea, but it has no outlets and so, while the water comes in, it never goes out. It takes but never gives. Some people are like the Dead Sea for they take and take and take but never give. When you are not giving, you are dying. When you are not helping others, you are not really living.

The world defines greatness in terms of power, possessions, prestige and position. Jesus, however, measured greatness in terms of service, not status. God determines greatness not by how many people serve you but by how many people you are serving and helping. God put you here so that you could make a difference with your life. You can read all kinds of magazines that talk about how to get more out of life, but greatness is not determined by how much you get; rather it’s determined by how much you give.

So how do you achieve greatness? First, look for needs. You need to be on the lookout for ways to help others. You might see someone who needs help carrying groceries. You might see someone who needs help changing a flat tire. You might see someone who needs help with homework. When you see a need, seize the moment. Galatians 6:10 says, “Whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone…”

Second, keep a low profile. Don’t call attention to yourself. Instead of acting to impress others, great people “…put on the apron of humility, to serve one another.” 1 Peter 5:5 If you are helping others to get noticed, then you really aren’t serving; you are self-serving, and the Bible says that God doesn’t reward that kind of behavior. Great people try to stay out of the limelight because they are more concerned with significance than prominence. The most significant service is service that is unseen.

Third, you need to do small deeds. Small deeds often show a big heart. Big-hearted people are willing to do whatever it takes. They are willing to do the menial things that others don’t want to do. There are always people willing to do the big things but few people are willing to do the little things. Some people think they are too good to do menial, unseen deeds. Galatians 6:3 says, “If anyone thinks he is too great to stoop to this, he is fooling himself. He is really a nobody.” Jesus did all sorts of small, menial deeds. He washed people’s feet. He helped children. He served lepers. Nothing was beneath him and doing these things is what made him a great person.

Great opportunities often disguise themselves as little things. Look for ways to help others and you’re well on your way to achieving greatness in the Kingdom of God.

Kevin Kloster is the Pastor of Journey United Methodist Church. For more information about Journey, check out www.journeyunitedmethodist.com.

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