In Matthew's Steps: The Greatness Debate

The First Steps: Read: Matthew 18

Focus Verse: At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" Jesus called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said, "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 18:1-3

Meditation: The Greatness Debate

It snowed here! Again! Last week we received a recogrd breaking 18 inches of snow...all in the same night. Even after the first day, the snow was piled up alongside the road. Huge hills of snow can be seen.

As an adult snow at any time is a bit...annoying. But I remember as a kid playing on these huge hills of snow our school would push up on the sides of the parking lot. The hills weren't probably all that big...but as a kid they were huge! And when no one was looking we'd play a game known as "King of the Hill". A game to decide who was the greatest climber and stayer on the mountain of snow.

As an adult I have grown past that childish game...right? Not quite. The question: "Who's the greatest?" is still up for grabs. Only now the question is: "Who's the greatest pastor?" ... "Who's the greatest citizen?" ... "Who's the greatest person...period?" Adults rank greatness depending on social status in the community, salary, influence. Greatness is found for us in how popular we are, how well-traveled we are, or how successful our children are.

The disciples too competed for greatness... greatness in this new "kingdom of heaven" Jesus was talking about. And this chapter in Matthew today highlights just how radically different Jesus' idea of greatness is from ours. Let's see what Jesus says...

"Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."... One of the ways we determine greatness as adults is by educational level. The more education we have, we figure, the greater we become. Doctors and surgeons are paid so much, not because of what they do, but because of how much education they need to do what they do. The greater the education...the greater you are. Jesus says... NO. Education doesn't measure greatness in the kingdom of heaven. When we must become like an uneducated child to enter it, greatness takes on a whole new meaning. Our worth doesn't depend on the "Dr." in front of our names or on how many degrees we obtained after high school. Becoming humus(dirt) is what helps you achieve greatness in this new kingdom of heaven. Lowering yourself and becoming the servant to others is what makes you great.

"See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven."... Think of the ones you "look up" to...and those you "look down" on. You might think of the homeless man on the street compared to, say, Donald Trump. Which one is great in the world's eyes? Trump of course. And which one is looked down on? Jesus says that the little ones looked down on have a special place in God's heart. They are truly great!

"If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you."...Apart from being a celebrity and the educational level we achieve, another way we measure greatness is by our sinlessness. By our perfection. The less we offend others, the less we do wrong, the greater we think we are. The more we offend, the more we risk being seen as weak. Take, for example, the ever common pastoral offense. This happens when your pastor(who is human) does something that offends you. Immediately you feel...strange. The man (or woman) you thought was so great...isn't. Their perfection is flawed. Their sin is apparrent. You struggle with what to do. Do you go to them? Or not? How do you handle their fall from grace? Do you leave? Or do you make them leave?

"'Lord how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?'" Jesus answered, 'I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.'"... Finally Jesus asserts that true greatness is found in forgiveness. We can measure our greatness in this kingdom of heaven by our ability to forgive others. This is a different teaching that what the world teaches us where greatness is found in the justice we can weild against others and the power we hold over their lives, not in our ability to forgive and forget their mistakes. Sin gives the victim power. And that power is a sign of greatness. In the kingdom of heaven, though, that power is dispursed. The sinner is forgiven. And the ability to forgive becomes a mark of true greatness.

To be humble, lowly like a child, forgiving(not grudge holding), to place yourself at the lowest station. That is truly greatness according to Jesus. So... how does your definition measure up? What needs to change...for you to be truly great? Amen!

Questions to Ponder...
1) Imagine a "great" person... What does he or she look like? What is so great about them?
2) We measure greatness with money in our culture. With that said, who is "great" in the world's eyes? Who are the "little ones?"
3) How do you struggle with being great? What would you life look like if you just relaxed and trusted in God like a child?

A Prayer to Pray...
Heavenly Father, your Son comes announcing a new kingdom of heaven that is foreign to everything we know or see. Give us eyes of faith that we might trust in His word, believing in his greatness, and serving him in humility that we might become even as little children in this new kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.