I did an online search on how to become great and was overwhelmed by the number of resources that came up. I can’t say that I was surprised, there is a huge market for self-improvement. There are countless books, or you can just go to youtube and watch the summary of those books. Or watch a video of people who claim to have read many of those books and see which ones they recommend. There must be a lot of money to be made by teaching people how to improve in different areas of life. To be honest I have watched quite a few of those youtube videos with the book review and summaries. I have also listened to several of those books in audio, read some, and read even more articles and blog posts on productivity, creativity, fitness, marriage advice, tips on how to raise children, and the list goes on.

There is a lot of good advice out there. I am not putting down the self-help category, though there are a number of scams you need to be aware of, just like in any area of life. Though I am tempted to share some of my personal tips for success I would rather focus on a bit of advice shared by the greatest leader who ever walked on earth. His advice on leadership and success is both simple and complex, practical and profound. This is a topic I continue to study, and though I do not know it all I invite you to join me on this journey and we can learn together.

Context

In Matthew 18:1 the disciples ask Jesus who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Jesus answers by calling a child to Himself and saying that whoever humbles himself as that little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18:1-4)

In Matthew 19:18 the rich young ruler approaches Jesus with questions regarding eternal life. Jesus’ answer causes the disciples to ask even more questions and eventually the discussion ends with Jesus saying that many who are first will be last and the last first. (Matthew 19:30)

This brings us to Matthew 20 which begins with the parable of the workers in the vineyard where the workers who worked all day and the ones who were hired at the end of the day and only worked for one hour receive the same reward.

Jesus Predicts His Death and Resurrection

I will pick up the story with Matthew 20:17 where Jesus predicts His death and resurrection.

17 Now Jesus, going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples aside on the road and said to them, 18 “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, 19 and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again.”
- Matthew 20:17-19 NKJV

In other words, Jesus says to His disciples,

I’m going to be betrayed,
and condemned to death,
and mocked,
and scourged,
and crucified…
But I will rise again on the third day!

I expected His disciples to be concerned, to ask questions, and to offer Jesus words of encouragement. But it seems like they were not listening, they were not paying attention. The words of Jesus that did not support their preconceived notions seem to be ignored. Good thing we don’t behave in a similar manner today, or do we? Quoting Jesus when it is convenient and supports our agenda, but ignoring the other things He said that challenge our life choices.

Have mom ask Him

20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and asking something from Him.
- Matthew 20:20 NKJV

If you’re wondering who the sons of Zebedee were Matthew 4:21; 10:2 tell us that they were James and John. So James and John thought it would be a good idea to have their mother come and ask Jesus for something. I say this because when Jesus responds He does so using the second-person plural addressing James and John and not their mother. In my mind I imagine two grown men wanting to ask Jesus for a special favor but asking their mother to ask for them. Maybe they thought it would increase their chances. This also provides us with an insight that there were women following Jesus though they are not often explicitly mentioned.

You don’t know what you ask

21 And He said to her, “What do you wish?”

She said to Him, “Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom.”

22 But Jesus answered and said, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”

They said to Him, “We are able.

23 So He said to them, “You will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father.”
- Matthew 20:21-23NKJV

When Jesus says to the mother of Zebedee’s sons “what do you wish?” this is an incredible opportunity! She knows what she will ask for, and asks for honor and glory, and prestige for her boys. She wants Jesus to give her boys the highest positions of power next to Him in His kingdom.

Just as a reminder, Jesus had just finished talking about how He will be betrayed, condemned to death, mocked, scourged, and crucified. Yet James and John completely ignore this bit of information. Probably because the thoughts that are filling their minds are thoughts of power and authority and greatness. It is fascinating how selfish thoughts can keep us from hearing the full message Jesus has for us.

Does your theology, your understanding of God, make room for all the messy and difficult parts or do you just hold on to your favorite parts and ignore the others?

When asked about power and glory Jesus immediately answers by talking about trials He will face and whether they are willing and capable to face them as well. They say they are able but they clearly don’t know what they are talking about. Later they will abandon Jesus and flee. Eventually, they will, to a degree, be persecuted and suffer for their faith in and faithfulness to Jesus. But positions of honor in the kingdom of heaven do not work in this way, they are not given to those who have their mother petition Jesus on their behalf.

I see this as an example of a request we should not make to God. We should not ask for power, authority, or prestige whether on earth or in heaven. This request reveals that we are not listening to the message Jesus has for us. We are not concerned with His kingdom and His values but rather our own. The mother asked for a high position for her boys in the kingdom of Jesus, but that demonstrated their desire to build up their own kingdom. They were not interested in serving Jesus so much as they were interested in the power they would gain as a result of serving Jesus. James and John were really concerned about their own kingdom and Jesus was a way to get honor for themselves.

We must resist the temptation to see Jesus as a means to our own selfish ends. We must be about His business, His agenda, and His values, not our own disguised as a godly pursuit.

How to become great!

24 And when the ten heard it, they were greatly displeased with the two brothers. 25 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. 26 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. 27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
- Matthew 20:24-28 NKJV

When the other disciples find out what just happened they are not happy. James and John just used their mother to try to get ahead. How dare they!? And to use their mother! How could they?

Perhaps all the disciples are now thinking about how to position themselves in order to gain an advantage over the others, how to get ahead, how to get promoted, and how to gain power and authority. In religion, in the church, there is constantly a danger, a temptation, to seek power and authority and glory, but to disguise it as godliness. People can use Jesus, the Bible, and religion, as a means of controlling people. Abuses of power happen too often.

So how do we prevent it from happening here? How can we avoid leaders using their position simply to control others? How do we avoid having power-hungry leaders?

I do not have all the answers. But I strongly believe that when you remove the Bible from the people the church can become just as corrupt and oppressive as any secular government, or company, or hierarchy. The only solution I see to this problem is the study of the Bible and a willingness to be judged by it and to submit to it. The temptation and the human tendency to twist scriptures to our own benefit and to support our personal agenda will always exist. But my hope is that there will always be enough sincere godly people honestly and sincerely studying and seeking God to hold those in power accountable and keep them in check.

We must allow Jesus to teach us how to lead, and this is what He had to say to His disciples regarding greatness.

25 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. 26 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. 27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
- Matthew 20:25-28 NKJV

In the world, those who are great exercise authority over others. But it will not be so among you. You are to be different. Whoever wants to be great should become your servant. Your role as a leader is to serve those you are leading and serve those around you. Don’t think of leadership as gaining authority, rather consider it a responsibility. Jesus said whoever desires to be first should be a slave. A slave places the will of the master above his own. A slave does the will of the master and refrains from doing what is outside the will of the master.

Sharing this troubles me. Because I can see how some will abuse this. I can see how this would make followers of God vulnerable to abuse. Jesus did say “And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave.” And I can see people using this to take advantage of others. One safety measure I see in this is that the way Jesus said it, you are always the one freely choosing to become the servant, it is never the other forcing you to serve them. Meaning no one gets to tell you to serve them. Jesus lays out service as the path to greatness, but you are invited to serve and you must freely choose to do so.

I also look at this in light of everything else Jesus said and the Bible teaches, and there is also dignity for human life and mutual love that stems from God keeps people from abusing or taking advantage of this principle. I am still working out all the implications of this, but ultimately Jesus is my example.

Jesus came to serve and even to sacrifice Himself. Yet he was not controlled by those around Him.

So I challenge you to have the attitude and heart of a servant, but this does not mean becoming a doormat for someone else or an enabler for someone else’s sinful tendencies.

Jesus as my example

just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
- Matthew 20:28NKJV

Jesus did serve and suffer and sacrificed Himself. But He did so for our salvation. Jesus did not sacrifice Hismelf for our comfort, or for our selfish whims. Jesus sacrificed Himself to bring us salvation because there was no other way (Matthew 26:39). We could not save ourselves. The only way for our salvation is through Jesus and He had to die for our sins (1 Peter 2:23-25; Titus 2:14).

When we serve, we should serve in order to save, to help those who otherwise could not help themselves. We are called to sacrifice for others, for their benefit. But this does not mean their whim, their selfishness, or laziness. We need wisdom from God to know the best way to help and the strength and wisdom to do so. Not to facilitate someone else to continue to live a life indulging in sin that is ultimately a self-destructive life.

As I said. This is a complex topic and I am still figuring out healthy boundaries and applications. But just because I have yet to iron out all the implications it does not deny the principle of service. Just because this is a hard teaching it does not mean that I will ignore it. I choose to wrestle with it. I will likely make mistakes but I would rather make them trying to serve those around me.

Case study

29 Now as they went out of Jericho, a great multitude followed Him. 30 And behold, two blind men sitting by the road, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!”

31 Then the multitude warned them that they should be quiet; but they cried out all the more, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!”
- Matthew 20:29-31 NKJV

Jesus is leaving Jericho and a great multitude is following Him. Two bling beggars begin to cry out for Jesus to have mercy on them. They refer to Jesus as Lord and Son of David, which meant they believed He was the Messiah. The multitude saw this as an interference in the incredibly important mission of Jesus. Surely Jesus’ time was of great value and He should not allow Himself to be stopped by a couple of blind beggars. Surely they were not worth Jesus’ time and power. The multitude believed it would be a waste for Jesus to stop to minister to these poor blind men.

32 So Jesus stood still and called them, and said, “What do you want Me to do for you?”
- Matthew 20:32NKJV

This is essentially what Jesus said to the mother of James and John. This question (What do you want me to do for you?” could have been understood as special treatment for the mother of two disciples of Jesus, yet He extends the same kindness to poor blind beggars on the side of the road. But Jesus did not give her sons what she had asked for. So maybe this will be bad news for the poor bind men.

33 They said to Him, “Lord, that our eyes may be opened.”
- Matthew 20:33 NKJV

The blind men did not ask for glory and honor. They did not ask for power. They asked to be cured, to be set free from blindness. They asked for something only Jesus could do for them.

34 So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him.
- Matthew 20:33-34NKJV

Did you notice what Jesus just did?

He stopped and served these two poor blind beggars. Jesus just demonstrated the principle he was describing to His disciples. Jesus shows us what it means to be a servant. He was willing to stop and care for two men that no one else cared for. Jesus had compassion for those who were suffering and He helped them.

I like the way Craig Blomberg puts it,

“Jesus’ entire thrust is on enabling and empowering others rather than wielding power for oneself.”
- Craig Blomberg, Matthew, vol. 22, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992), 308.

Another quote that captures this principle well is found in the book the Desire of Ages, chapter 71.

“Jesus, the served of all, came to be the servant of all. And because He ministered to all, He will again be served and honored by all. And those who would partake of His divine attributes, and share with Him the joy of seeing souls redeemed, must follow His example of unselfish ministry.”
- Ellen Gould White, The Desire of Ages, vol. 3, Conflict of the Ages Series (Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1898), 651.

Though I do not have all the answers I believe a few things are very clear. Jesus gave us the example of service and He invites us to follow His example for according to Him this is the path to greatness in His kingdom.