Everyone wants to be great at something. Some people chase greatness in business, climbing the ladder until their name carries weight in a boardroom. Others chase it in sports, pushing their bodies to the limit to break records. Some are called “great” because they’re funny, charming, or make a lot of money. The world has many ways to measure greatness, but God’s economy operates differently.
The disciples once had the same conversation. They were walking with Jesus and debating who among them would be the greatest. Mark 9:34 says, “But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.”
Jesus didn’t scold them for wanting to be great. He just redefined what greatness really means. Here are the three things Jesus told them they must do if they want to be great in His eyes:
1. Put Yourself Last
If you want to be great with God, you must learn to put yourself last. That’s not an easy thing to do in a world that constantly tells you to “look out for number one.” But Jesus said in Mark 9:35, “If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.”
Philippians 2:3 gives us the same heart: “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.”
Greatness with God isn’t about having the spotlight. It’s about making sure everyone else gets cared for before you do. That’s how Christ lived. He humbled Himself, became obedient unto death, and served those who didn’t deserve it.
2. Be a Servant of All
True greatness is not about being served: it’s about serving. Jesus said, “Whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.” (Mark 10:44)
A great person in God’s eyes doesn’t wait to be asked for help. They go out of their way to serve others. Whether it’s carrying a burden, listening to someone who’s hurting, or doing something small that no one notices, every act of service counts in Heaven’s eyes.
In John 13, Jesus washed His disciples’ feet to show this very thing. He wasn’t just cleaning their feet; He was giving them an example to follow.
3. Care for the Ones Who Can’t Give Back
Mark 9:36 says, “And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them…”
Jesus used that child as a living illustration. Children are often seen as less important because they have no power, no status, and nothing to offer in return. Yet Jesus said that welcoming a child in His name is the same as welcoming Him.
That same heart is echoed in James 1:27, which says, “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.”
In other words, greatness is found in compassion for those who can’t help themselves. When you care for the forgotten, God takes notice.
The world’s view of greatness is about climbing higher. God’s view of greatness is about going lower: serving, loving, and putting others first.
So if you want to be the greatest, start by getting low. Put others ahead of yourself, serve everyone you can, and care for those who can’t return the favor. That’s how you’ll find yourself great in the eyes of God.
