“At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a little child and set him before them, android, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, unless you repent [that is, change your inner self- your old way of thinking, live changed lives] and become like children [trusting, humble, and forgiving], you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:1-4 AMP.
As a culture we love acronyms. We are constantly inventing new ones.
FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out)- you’re scared to miss an important opportunity so you strive to take advantage of all opportunities.
BAE (Before Anyone Else)- your significant other.
LOL (Laugh Out Loud)- when you read the text you actually laughed out loud.
GOAT (Greatest Of All Time)- the person is the best at their craft.
Do you want to be a GOAT?
I first heard this acronym being used to describe Micheal Phelps after he won his 28th Olympic Medal. That’s the most of any Olympic athlete ever, hence he is called the GOAT.
Tom Brady has also been called the GOAT regarding NFL quarterbacks and for good reason. As much as I root against him Tom finds a way to lead his team to victory in clutch moments.
In the passage we read the disciples were wanting to know how they could be the GOAT in the Kingdom of God. Jesus answered them in an unexpected way. He told the disciples to become like children.
Jesus’s answer makes no sense to us in today and it didn’t make sense to His disciples either.
Children are not typically thought of as great. I mean what have they accomplished to make them great? When we think of greatness we think of someone who has achieved and excelled beyond anyone else in their profession.
We think of Michael Phelps, Tom Brady, John Wayne, Amelia Earhart, and other women and men who have made a name for themselves. Pulled themselves up by their own bootstraps and got it done.
This is not the picture that Jesus so masterfully painted when He had a child demonstrate how true greatness can be achieved. Jesus essentially turned what we consider greatness to be onto its head.
He used a child to show us that the path to true greatness is paved with humility.
C.S. Lewis defined humility this way-“Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.” Phillip Brooks made an accurate comment when he said, “ The true way to be humble is not to stoop until you are smaller than yourself, but to stand at your real height against some higher nature that will show you what the real smallness of your greatness is.”
Scripture affirms the path to greatness is paved with humility.
“A man’s pride and sense of self-importance will Brin him down, but he who has a humble spirit will obtain honor.” Proverbs 29:23 AMP
“When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” Proverbs 11:2 NIV
“The LORD lifts up the humble; He casts the wicked down to the ground.” Psalms 147:6 AMP
Clearly, we can see that God prefers humility over pride or self certified greatness. In order to become great in the eyes of God we must become humble. That is exactly what Jesus was trying to show the disciples in the passage we read earlier.
In another portion of Matthew Jesus mentions a man specifically by name, who Jesus himself says, is the greatest in the Kingdom of God.
“Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” Matthew 11:11 NIV
John the Baptist is the greatest in the Kingdom yet the least is greater than he? Huh? So is John the greatest or not Jesus? He is but so is the person with the least notoriety in the Kingdom.
What the disciples missed and for that matter what we seldomly realize is that the point is not to strive to be the GOAT.
Our should not be, to be the Greatest Of All Time.
Being great in the Kingdom of God is not about focusing on ourselves and our own achievements. EVEN if they are for the Kingdom of Heaven. Your life is not ultimately lived for you.
The reason Jesus said that John was the greatest is because John wasn’t consumed with being great. John the Baptist played a major role in preparing the way for Jesus. In fact people were even asking if he was the Messiah. John rejected those claims and instead he pointed the people to Jesus, the true Messiah.
In John 3:30 John the Baptist says-“He must become greater; I must become less” speaking of Jesus.
Talk about humility.
When I came across this verse in my study time it wrecked me. In our world of social media and self promotion I often catch myself doing and saying things to build myself up. To increase my popularity. Even my good intentions were checked because of this verse.
I would love to become a full time writer/speaker/preacher. That my dream job. Recently, God has used John the Baptist words to check my motives for dreaming this dream.
Do I want to become a writer/speaker for the notoriety it could bring myself or do I want to pursue that line of work to bring Glory to God?
If I’m honest with you, the answer has been more often the prior than the latter. “Jesus must become greater; I must become less” has become my life motto over the last several months.
Jesus considered John the Baptist as the greatest in the Kingdom because of his child like humility not because of his accomplishments. The path to greatness is paved with humility.
Humility will get you where you need to be, maybe not how you want to but it will lead you to the precise place you need to arrive.
Jesus leaves room for the rest of us to lead lives of greatness when he says-“yet whoever is least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he.” So in order to become the greatest we just have to become the least! Makes sense, right? Also, why does Jesus bring a child into this discussion of greatness?
Simply put Jesus wants us to take on the humility of children by serving others just as John the Baptist did. Therefore, we become the “least” or servants, in order to become great in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Have you ever noticed how eager children are to serve?
My daughter, Kailey, is constantly asking me to help with the project I’m currently working on. She loves to wash the dishes, sweep, feed the cat, and for some really strange reason she often asks to clean the toilets. I think her Nana Hope has brainwashed her into that one.
In all seriousness children typically have a servants heart. They are constantly searching for ways to humbly serve those around them. We become the greatest in the Kingdom of God by humbly serving others.
In his Gospel, Mark writes it this way-“They came to Capernaum. When he (Jesus) was in the house, he asked them (the disciples), “What were you arguing about on the road?” But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”
We should daily ask ourselves, “Do I have the humility to serve others?” As Jesus has commanded. I would like to believe I do, but I know I often drop the ball when it comes to humbly serving others.
It’s difficult for me to serve my family after a long day at work. I’m often tired and cranky. I just want to relax instead of listening to and helping the ones I love most. Not exactly taking on the role of a humble servant, I know.
Other times I don’t know how or where to serve. I’m unaware of the manner in which my family needs me. At those times I must remember to ask where and how I can serve them.
Here are a few practical way, in my opinion, to be a humble servant-
- Serve your family. You can serve your family in a number of ways. Helping the kids with homework, having a family game night, buying your wife flowers just because, and have a real conversation. If you don’t see a way to serve your family then ASK how you might serve them!
- Serve your church. Serving your church is as easy as asking one of the pastors where there is a need that you can help to meet. The nursery, Sunday school teachers, children’s ministries, youth ministries, and young adult ministries. There is a place in the church for you! If I may get on my soap box for a moment, the church was never meant for a few people to serve the needs and wants of the many. We as The Church are supposed to serve one another, all of us serving each other together. It breaks my heart to see just a few people serving every single week while the rest of the church only fills a pew and expects the pastor to “feed them the Word.” Many in the church are missing the blessings that come with being a humble servant simply because they do not believe they are qualified to serve. Do not believe this lie of Satan! We need you! We want you! Don’t miss the fulfillment and blessings that come from serving, especially serving the Bride of Christ.
- Serve your community. Serving your community might appear daunting at first but let’s not allow it to become complicated. Mowing a neighbors yard, buying groceries for a family in need, and donating to a local food bank or homeless shelter are just a few ways to make serving your community simple. I encourage you to expand on all these lists to fit the needs surrounding you.
- See a need meet that need. It doesn’t matter what the need is if you see it and are capable of meeting it then meet that need! You see that specific need for a reason, so meet it!
We have all been called to humbly serve just as our Savior has done before us. I’m not trying to shame or guilt you into serving. That wouldn’t be serving out of a child like humility. If you consider yourself a Jesus Follower, then it is clear you must serve others.
“Jesus called them (the disciples) together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.””-Mark 10:42-45 NIV.
If Jesus, the Author of Life, humbled Himself and served those around Him, what is our excuse? We are to follow after the example of the Ultimate Humble Servant Himself, serving others out of a child like humility.
That is how we can be the GOAT; the Greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. Let’s get to humbly serving one another!
I’d love to hear ways I can serve you in the comments below!