True greatness.

The first line of today’s devo in Pauses for Lent says: When Jesus teaches his disciples about what it means to follow him, he redefines the meaning of true greatness.

What does that mean?

It means that in the upside-down kingdom Jesus taught about—and the one he teaches us to advance—our hearts should rest on the servant side of things.

Think of individuals you consider to be truly great. Do you see any common denominators among them? I bet there is at least one thing in common: a heart of service.

Sometimes service is behind the scenes, like raising a household that goes on to do great things out loud.
Sometimes service is out front, like leading a congregation of thousands or leading an important social movement.
Sometimes service is really behind the scenes, like the company that makes the cranes that move your Amazon packages all around the warehouse so you can get them in less than 48 hours. Those welders, production workers, supervisors, engineers — they get paid, but they do their work and ask for/get no recognition for that process. And without the Amazon packages … do I even have to finish that sentence?
Sometimes service is really out loud, like the faces of service organizations or influencers on Instagram that work to make the world a better place. Which brings me to my next point…

True Greatness here on earth is incredibly subjective. I knew this before I Googled “Greatest people of all time” and then it was confirmed when this list appeared at the top of my screen. This is a direct screenshot:

Some pretty varied opinions up there, yes? Wow. What this shows me is what the Bible says:

Greatness by earth’s standards is too subjective and too self-centered to be true. And to be true means to stand the test of time. What has stood the test of time? Jesus’ upside-down kingdom and greatness in service. There’s a reason churches around the country engage in Serve Days; it’s because serving others in big and small ways does so many great things for the soul. It humanizes others when we see the face of people we’re helping. It reminds us that we’re not so great that we can’t get down and scrub some floors. It reminds us that life is fragile and fleeting when we serve individuals who may have been uber-healthy in their hey-day and are now wheelchair or homebound. Serving others reminds us that we’re not here for ourselves; we’re here for each other. We are here for each other.

That is what encompasses True Greatness. Service to others, tending to each other.

This does not mean we ignore vital self-care. This does not mean we run ourselves absolutely ragged in pursuit of service to others. It means we ask Jesus, where can I serve today?

In your kitchen & in your garden;
In your church & in the drive-through line;
At small group in your home & on Zoom;
In sending an encouraging text & in sending a gift;
In making a meal for a family friend & in volunteering at a shelter.

Service looks different for every person, and it looks different in every season of life. Don’t compare your heart of service to the person next to you, but rather ask Jesus how he’s called you to serve, and do that.

May your heart be pointed toward service today. May you step out bolding in however God has prompted your heart to serve. May you know that service in your kitchen is just as important as a missionary’s service across the globe. And may you open your heart to receive others’ service to you, both in your times of need and in plenty.

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Tell me about you: how do you balance self-care and service?

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