What is greatness? According to Merriam-Webster, greatness can be defined as "the quality or state of being great (as in size, skill, achievement, or power)." For many, greatness is associated with power, wealth, status, or ability. Just think of the athletes in the Hall of Fame: Babe Ruth, Jackie Robinson, Joe Montana, Michael Jorden, Wayne Gretzky, and Alex Ovechkin, to name a few. These men were extraordinary athletes in their careers, earning cups, trophies, and personal achievements in their lifetime. Think of the famous entrepreneurs who created the companies we see today: Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and John McAfee. Think of the big-time entertainers like Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Dolly Parton, Madonna, and Taylor Swift. And, of course, think of the long lists of actors, activists, and politicians who are considered great. All of these men and women have greatness attributed to them, and for the most part, we aspire to be just like them. Not only that, but we are even told to shoot for the moon and become better than these greats. This is how the world defines greatness.

The sobering truth about this kind of greatness, however, is that it is unstable. Worldly greatness is only given to a person if they are deemed great by the public. This would seem stable enough, but public opinions change. Because we live in a fallen world, we are subject to the temptations of sin. It only takes one slip-up for a 'great' person to stop becoming great. Consider Mr. Lance Armstrong, a well-renowned cyclist. Mr. Armstrong's claim to fame was his ability to compete in the arduous Tour de France and winning several times. But, Mr. Armstrong was living a lie. Once word got out that he was using performance-enhancing drugs to win, Mr. Armstrong's reputation was shattered. It only takes one hit to a great person to deal damage to them, just like it happened to Mr. Armstrong. And then, of course, there's the X-factor of longevity. A person is their greatest when they are alive or they hold unbelievable records. But what about when they die? What if they are forgotten? What if they are succeeded by another? These fears are especially rampant in the world of athletics, where records are broken all the time. A record once held by a great suddenly is broken by newcomers, who may then go on to become greats. Greatness, then, is never guarantied to last. Under the world's definition, greatness is a temporary and flawed title bestowed upon temporary and flawed people by a temporary and flawed public.

However, if we were to ask God about greatness, He would give us a completely different answer. For God, greatness has nothing to do with a person's power, status, ability, and wealth. Rather, true greatness has to do with humility. Yes, humility. In God's Kingdom, humility is the means by which someone can become great. Humility is putting yourself in a lower position than another, usually in terms of serving others. Essentially, humility is putting aside your own desires for the sake of serving others. Humility is lowliness, and in the context of Christianity, tethered to Christ. Of course, this is not to our own glory; we do not serve to get glory. Rather, humility is considered greatness by God because it reflects the Greatest of All Time (yes, GOAT), Jesus.

Jesus is the Ultimate Example on how to live, and it is through His actions that we can learn to serve. Jesus' mission can be best summed up as His own words: "For the Son of Man also came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45, WEB). Here are some other passages in which Jesus discusses humility as the basis for greatness:

• "In that hour the disciples came to Jesus, saying, 'Who then is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?' Jesus called a little child to himself, and set him in the middle of them and said, 'Most certainly I tell you, unless you turn and become as little children, you will in no way enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. Whoever therefore humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven'" (Matthew 18:1-4, WEB).

• "He spoke a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the best seats, and said to them, 'When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, don’t sit in the best seat, since perhaps someone more honorable than you might be invited by him, and he who invited both of you would come and tell you, 'Make room for this person.' Then you would begin, with shame, to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes, he may tell you, 'Friend, move up higher.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at the table with you. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted'" (Luke 14:7-11, WEB).

• "They began to question among themselves, which of them it was who would do this thing. A dispute also arose among them, which of them was considered to be greatest. He said to them, 'The kings of the nations lord it over them, and those who have authority over them are called 'benefactors.' But not so with you. But one who is the greater among you, let him become as the younger, and one who is governing, as one who serves. For who is greater, one who sits at the table, or one who serves? Isn’t it he who sits at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. But you are those who have continued with me in my trials. I confer on you a kingdom, even as my Father conferred on me, that you may eat and drink at my table in my Kingdom. You will sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel'" (Luke 22:23-30, WEB).

• "Jesus...arose from supper, and laid aside his outer garments. He took a towel and wrapped a towel around his waist. Then he poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. So when he had washed their feet, put his outer garment back on, and sat down again, he said to them, 'Do you know what I have done to you You call me, 'Teacher' and 'Lord.' You say so correctly, for so I am. If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should also do as I have done to you. Most certainly I tell you, a servant is not greater than his lord, neither is one who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them'" (John 13:3-5, 12-17).

These four passages all show examples of true greatness in God's Kingdom. In the first passage, Jesus uses a child to show how one ought to approach the Kingdom of God. A child is very reliant on someone else taking care of them. Even the most arrogant of children have to admit that they cannot fully take of themselves. A child cannot provide for themselves, and because they lack self-provision, they must rely on a parent or guardian who can. Children need help being fed, housed, cleaned, and taken care of until they can develop the means to do so themselves. In other words, being a child means total surrender to and utter dependance on a higher authority. This is exactly the kind of attitude that Jesus wants from those who are seeking the Kingdom of God. Because we are sinners in debt to a Perfect God, we have no other means to enter God's Kingdom other than the blood of Jesus Christ. It is through our surrender to Christ that we can enter God's Kingdom. The second and third passages deal with how a Christian ought to act in the Kingdom. In the second passage, Jesus tells a situational parable while He is dining with Pharisees (cf. Luke 14:1). In His parable, Jesus gives advice to His hearers concerning their conduct at a hypothetical wedding feast. Jesus warns against presumptuously taking the best seat in the house, cautioning that it will only result in humiliation from the guest "since perhaps someone more honorable than you might be invited by him" (cf. Luke 14:8). This would, no doubt, result in the guest's shame as being unworthy to sit in the best seat. Rather than being forced to be humble, Jesus says that it is best to come in as humble. The result of voluntary humility is honor. "For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled," Jesus says, "and whoever humbles himself will be exalted" (Luke 14:11, WEB). Now, back in the 1st century, seating was everything, especially in a honor/shame culture like the Jews had. A large celebration like a wedding feast certainly drew large crowds to the host's home. Those who sat (or, reclined) at the best seats in the house were the wealthy or important. By contrast, those who sat in lower places were seen as inferior, or even poor. But, as is the case with His parables, Jesus is not concerned with correct wedding seating. Rather, Jesus uses the wedding seating as a tool to illustrate an attitude of humility. The wedding feast, no doubt, is an allusion to the Kingdom of God (cf. Matthew 22:1-3; Luke 14:12-15). So, rather than being like the Pharisees and assuming their self-righteousness could merit honor from God, we must adopt an attitude of humility as followers of Jesus. The third passage is in the context of the Last Supper. Jesus, while having His final meal before His crucifixion, hints at His betrayal by an apostle. Jesus' disciples begin to question themselves and each other about who would betray Jesus. This then leads to a debate about which disciple was the greatest. In this matter, Jesus once again reminds His disciples that greatness in God's Kingdom is not in status, but in serving. "The kings of the nations lord it over them, and those who have authority over them are called 'benefactors,'" Jesus says. "But not so with you. But one who is the greater among you, let him become as the younger, and one who is governing, as one who serves" (Luke 22:25-26, WEB). In this moment, Jesus takes the disciples' focus off of worldly greatness and instead places them on God's version of greatness. For the Kingdom of God, those who are truly great are the ones that serve the most. In the fourth passage, Jesus shows His disciples and us what humility in action looks like. During the Last Supper, Jesus wraps a towel around His waist and begins to wash His disciples' feet, much to the disciples' surprise. Now, Jesus' actions may seem like an odd thing for us today. But, during the 1st century, it was customary and common to wash feet. Because socks did not exist yet and most people wore sandals, feet would get dirty from travel and basic walking. Therefore, when guests were over at a house, it was common for a servant to wash the feet of the guests. What surprises the disciples and us about Jesus' actions, however, is not what He is doing but the fact He is doing it! Jesus, the King of kings and the Lord of lords, takes on a humble, extremely low position in front of His students. The closest analogy for us today is the role of a janitor. Imagine a well-known professor, scholar, and author with two PhDs mopping your floors. Not only would this be shocking to see, but this would also produce in us slight guilt for our inaction. The disciples may have felt the same way after Jesus washed each of their feet. But, Jesus has a reason for His actions. "If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet," Jesus teaches. "For I have given you an example, that you should also do as I have done to you" (John 13:14-15, WEB). Jesus sets an example for us to follow as Christians. This example, of course, is being servants to each other. Jesus wants those who follow Him to serve just as He served. There is much that can be said on this passage alone, but one thing is clear: service is a mark of leadership. To truly be great in God's Kingdom, it is important to serve.

It is evident that humility was seen by the early church as the mark of greatness in a follower of Christ. In fact, when writing their letters, James, Peter, and Jude all refer to themselves as slaves -- or doulos (δοῦλος) -- of Jesus (cf. James 1:1; 2 Peter 1:1; Jude 1:1). The early church fathers embraced humility, so much so at the cost of their lives. The early church fathers recognized their own unworthiness to follow Jesus. Peter, for instance, denied Jesus three times just before His crucifixion. But, where they were unworthy, Jesus came to make them worthy. Even more so, the early church fathers recognized that Christianity was a call to service in the Kingdom. To truly be great in God's Kingdom requires service.

So, what is greatness? According to the world, greatness is what you can do -- or rather, what people think you can do. If you are rich, powerful, charming, and smart, you are sure to become a great. After all, why not? The world needs an idol, and that idol can be you. You get the awards, the accomplishments, and the accolades. You live life and have fun, live free and die free. You can have your name in lights and on billboards. And this, my friend, is greatness. Or, you can choose to follow the humble route of the King. This path seldom contains pleasures of the worldly sort and often includes hardships. This Path, which is narrow, can become tiring and difficult. And this Path will also involve serving outside your comfort zone and being in positions that are the least greatest. In short, the Path on which our King trod makes no sense to the world. But, these two roads of greatness have two different destinations. The worldly definition of greatness leads to death and destruction in Hell. But following after God's version of greatness results in eternal life. In God's Kingdom, being a servant is considered greatness. And it will be, at the end our course in life, we will hear from the King Himself, "Well done, good and faithful servant" (cf. Matthew 25:21, 23). 

• "When pride comes, then comes shame, but with humility comes wisdom" Proverbs 11:2, WEB).

• "Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth" (Matthew 5:5, WEB).

• "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he will exalt you" (James 4:10, WEB).