Our society portrays certain kinds of people as the greatest, and they lift them up in the general opinion making them famous or of high status. Therefore they are considered the greatest. But is that really the truth? Yet some quietly do great things for others and society, and no one ever notices them. Therefore, they receive no praise from men. Yet, God takes notice of a person who humbly gives of themselves to help others.
It is hard for men to comprehend that who we see as the greatest is not in God’s eyes. It is not the guy famous for standing and preaching before a great crowd. Or those who wear flowing robes of religious grandeur, looking high and mighty in the eyes of all who see them. It is not the great and famous teacher, scholar, actor, or politician of our time or those who stand on stage entertaining the masses with their extraordinary vocal talents. It isn’t even the fancy and glamorous who stand in the top positions in the churches or places of authority.
Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:25-28
According to God, the most humble and lowest of mankind are the greatest. The one willing to do whatever it takes to serve the Lord and others for the growth of His Kingdom. For the instruction of His servants and the saving of many lost children. The sheep of His fold. In other words, a servant is the greatest. Isn’t that the complete opposite of popular opinion?
And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. John 10:16
The one willing to sit, listen, help, and heal the hurting and abused. The one who gets down to the level of the needy, hugs, feeds, and cries with the abandoned, lonely, or homeless. Who loves and cares for the least-liked in society. They don’t care what they must sacrifice to bring them the love and truth of Jesus Christ. They desire to show them all the salvation and healing available to them through the blood and sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
God looks favorably towards those with a child-like faith who trust Him completely and believe every word from the Lord to be true. Even though he or she can not see or understand it, they believe it to be true. The greatest, in God’s eyes, desire to sacrifice their lives and time to seek the Lord truly, with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. They strive to be filled with His Holy Spirit so that they may have supernatural power to accomplish His will. To fulfill the mission He has prepared for them since before the beginning of time.
But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” And He laid His hands on them and went away. Matthew 19:14-15
The greatest in the kingdom of God is the one who is devoted to serving all and willing to take the lowest position and endure abuse or hardships necessary to accomplish God’s will in their life. Yet, they don’t always have a lowly position. They could be anyone among the crowd, but the truth is, it is about God’s will and others, and not themselves.
This person is great, honored, and highly favored in God’s sight. The angels marvel and speak of their great works of goodness, kindness, and true sacrifice for the sake of Jesus Christ. Oh, how great their reward in Heaven will be! How great their names will be in eternity! Wouldn’t you want that to be your fame? That your name is nothing on earth but great in eternity.
One day, all the hosts of Heaven will declare that they are one of the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven, and amazing will be their reward. Will you be willing to lay it all down for Jesus and to sacrifice for others? To serve instead of being served. To be humble and lowly in this world. To serve others and to be like a foolish little child is in the eyes of men because of your devotion to Jesus so that God Himself may call you the greatest.
An argument arose among them as to which of them was the greatest. But Jesus, knowing the reasoning of their hearts, took a child and put him by His side and said to them,
“Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives Him who sent me. For he who is least among you, all is the one who is great.” Luke 9:46-48
The Soul Sower 