If you ask children what they want to do when they grow up, most of the time they want to be something great. I have never heard a child say that he wants to be a servant.

Self-esteem is strongly promoted today. Kids are taught to think they are great superstars. They long to wear designer clothes so peers will think they are great. Many parents go to great effort and expense to push their children toward occupations that will make them great. Or they enrol them in sports and urge them to become a hero. Many children are so proud that being near them is unpleasant.

It is part of our sinful human nature to want to be something great. Jesus’ disciples had this ambition too.

Transition

This morning I want us to see what Jesus said to His disciples about becoming a great man. His words give us three prescriptions for becoming truly great in God’s eyes.

Jesus’ first prescription for becoming great in God’s eyes is to

Submit to God

  1. Submit first to God’s salvation
    1. Jesus’ words about being a great man were intended for those who were saved. Salvation deals with being saved from sin’s judgment. Before you can be great in God’s eyes, you need to be saved from judgment.
    2. Every one of us is a sinner. Our sin is an offence to God. Because He is holy, He must punish our sin. However, because He loves us, He sent His Son Jesus to earth to die in our place to pay for our sin.
      ☆ (2 Corinthians 5:21) “For he [God] hath made him [Christ] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
      ☆ (1 Corinthians 15:3) “… Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; (4) And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”
    3. Christ’s death and resurrection will only help you if you believe and receive it as your payment. You must repent or change your mind about your sin and turn to God.
      ☆ (Acts 3:19) “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;”
      ☆ (John 1:12) “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:”
  2. Submit second to God’s instruction
    1. Jesus was speaking to His disciples. A disciple is a follower or a learner. To benefit from His teaching about becoming great in God’s eyes, they had to submit to His instruction. They had to obey. Submissive obedience is the key.
    2. The only way any of us can become great in God’s eyes is to first submit to His instruction. We must be willing to humble ourselves and do what He says even if it hurts our pride and goes against modern thinking. The devil wants you to rebel against Jesus’ instructions.
      ☆ (James 4:7) “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
      Jesus’ second prescription for becoming great in God’s eyes is to

Serve others

  1. Jesus said, to be great you must serve (v.43).
    1. Men, to be a great husband or dad or leader you must be a minister. The word translated “minister” speaks of being a servant or one who waits upon others.
    2. This is against our human nature. God sees things far different than we do. In God’s eyes, humbly serving others is a mark of true greatness. Those who expect everyone to serve them are at the bottom of God’s list.
    3. Jesus taught this repeatedly during his earthly ministry.
      ☆ (Matthew 23:11) “But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. (12) And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.”
      ☆ (Luke 9:48) “… for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.”
      ☆ (Mark 9:35) “And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.”
    4. James wrote the same thing.
      ☆ (James 4:10) Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
    5. If you want God to lift you up, you must become a servant of others. You must wait upon others.
      1. Serve your wife instead of expecting her always to serve you. Lovingly thank her when she does.
      2. Serve your children instead of expecting them to wait upon you. Teach them to serve by your example.
  2. Jesus said, to be great you must be a servant (v.44)
    1. He said you must be servant of all. The word translated “servant” refers to a slave or bondservant. A slave has no rights. Living as a slave for others is the opposite of selfishness. It is denying self to please another. It requires putting others first and self last.
    2. A person with a genuine servant’s heart does not insist on having his own way.
      ☆ (Philippians 2:3) “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.”
      ☆ (Romans 12:10) “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;”

      1. Servants make themselves available to serve.
      2. Servants do what is needed, even when it is inconvenient.
      3. Servants see interruptions as opportunities to practice serving others.
      4. Servants pay attention to others’ needs.
      5. No task is beneath a servant. List by Creflo A. Dollar
        Jesus’ third prescription for becoming great in God’s eyes is to

Simulate Christ

A flight simulator looks and operates similar to an airplane cockpit. God wants our serving to simulate Christ, to be like His.

  1. Christ left heaven to serve ungrateful humans.
    1. He left the comfort and glory of heaven to help us.
    2. He was totally unselfish. The Creator of all things lowered Himself to minister to His creation.
      ☆ (Philippians 2:7) “But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:”
    3. Jesus did the slave’s dirty job of washing other’s feet.
      ☆ (John 13:14) “If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.”
    4. You cannot be selfish and have a servant’s heart at the same time. Selfishness and always expecting others to do things to please you will keep you from being a great man in God’s eyes and in the eyes of your wife and children.
  2. Christ sacrificed all for the benefit of sinners.
    1. He came to minister and to give His life to pay our debt. He suffered that we might escape judgment we deserve.
    2. To be great in God’s eyes, you must simulate Christ and be willing to suffer loss of time, energy, and personal desires to be a blessing to others.
      1. Give up personal time to minister to your wife.
      2. Sacrifice hobbies to spend time with your children.
      3. Set aside personal wants to a blessing to others.

Conclusion

Men, do you have a servant’s heart? 1) Do you willingly do unpleasant jobs rather than assigning them to someone else? 2) Do you often ask your wife if there is anything you can do to help? 3) Do you help your wife do “women’s work” with a pleasant attitude? 4) Do you look for kind things to do for others without being asked? 5) Do you happily sacrifice personal time to do things your children want you to do with them?

You can become a great man in the eyes of God if you will submit to God by getting saved, stepping on your pride and obeying His instructions; serve others, putting them ahead of yourself; and simulate Christ by sacrificing to meet the needs of others. By doing so, you will also become a great man in the eyes of your wife and children. Great men are humble helpers. With God’s help, you can be a great man!

Song: Cleanse Me – 166
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How to be a Great Man!
6 September 2015 – Mark 10:42-45 – Father’s Day – Scott Childs