THE PATH
TO GREATNESS
Washed
any feet lately? If I were to suggest that act as a path to greatness, would
you think me foolish? Certainly, in our nation, foot washing does not denote
the same thing that it did when Jesus lived, but He used the custom to teach a
lesson about humility and greatness. In John 13:4-17, shortly before His death,
Jesus took the opportunity of the Last Supper to teach several lessons. After
washing the feet of the disciples, he asked, "Know
ye what I have done to you"?
The disciples
were men with worldly emotions and desires. Like us, they needed guidance and
instruction. Some even desired to be elevated to positions of prominence in the
kingdom (Mk. 10:35-37). What they failed to see, and what men still fail to
see, is that Jesus’ kingdom is different than any ruled by mere men.
To be
elevated in it requires that we lower or abase ourselves, not seek the top
positions (Mt. 20:25-28). From the beginning Jesus discouraged performing
actions for the purpose of self-reward.
"Therefore
when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the
hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of
men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. But when thou doest alms,
let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth
in secret himself shall reward thee openly" (Mt. 6:2-4).
Pride
always has been a problem for man and an instrument of temptation used by
Satan. He used it on Eve (Gen. 3:6) and uses it on us today with the same
results (Prov. 16:18). That is why Jesus asked, "Know ye what I have done to
you"? In one of
His final acts, He was trying to get his disciples to see that greatness in the
kingdom (church) comes from serving others.
It does not
come from titles (Mt. 23:9). It does not come from works performed to impress
others (Mt. 6:1). Greatness in the kingdom comes from service to others, humbly
performed, without seeking the praise of men. "But he that is greatest among you
shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he
that shall humble himself shall be exalted (Mt. 23:11-12).
The
temptation to think of ourselves as better than others is present every day.
Better jobs often come to those who will do anything to out maneuver others.
Government leaders seek to humiliate their opponents by “digging up dirt.” Our
children face the problem in schools. And in the Lord's church men reject the
commandments against gossip, holding grudges and resolving differences in love,
instead choosing slanderous e-mails, articles and the proverbial friendly knife
in the back.
All of us
should heed Paul's warning in Galatians 5:15: "But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that
ye be not consumed one of another.”
God's view
of greatness is different than man's (Mt. 20:25), so His requirement for greatness
also is different (Mk. 10:43). Let us seek to do what God requires, "for, behold, your reward is great in
heaven" (Lk. 6:20-23).