These statements do seem to be contradictory. They seem to be the very opposite of truth but when we study them under the leading of the Holy Spirit, we find they are true. Believe them or not - they are truths given us by our Lord. They do run counter to the way we think as the Bible states.

Isa. 55:8 through Isa. 55:9 (KJV)
⁸ For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. ⁹ For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Luke 16:15 (KJV)
¹⁵ And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.

        The natural man -- the unsaved man, considers these truths as foolishness.

1 Cor. 2:14 (KJV)
¹⁴ But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

        You will notice that the reason he considers them such is that he cannot know them because they -- spiritual truths -- are spiritually discerned. When one is saved, he is indwelt by the Holy Spirit and only thus can he understand the great truths of the Bible. The Holy Spirit teaches him and reveals to him the truth.

John 14:26 (KJV)
²⁶ But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

John 16:12 through John 16:14 (KJV)
¹² I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. ¹³ Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. ¹⁴ He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you.

        I will deal with only one of these paradoxical statements in this message. The way to be great is to be small - to be a servant. Let us read and seriously consider our scripture again.

Mark 10:43 through Mark 10:45 (KJV)
⁴³ But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: ⁴⁴ And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. ⁴⁵ For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

I.   The World's Standard Of Greatness

        The twelve did not grasp the real significance of Jesus' messianic mission. They thought He would set up a temporal kingdom and they had been arguing as to which of them would hold the highest rank in that kingdom. Maybe Peter, James and John, which had been singled out by Jesus to go with Him on the Mount of Transfiguration. They felt they should have the chief honors.

        Jesus sat down and taught them the true nature of greatness in the Kingdom of God, which is a spiritual kingdom. It was a hard lesson for them and it is still a hard lesson for man today.

        The world says, "Work hard to reach the top of the ladder -- never be satisfied until you're the richest, the most famous person in your field. The world shouts, "Live it up. You pass this way but once." God answers back and says, "Only one life, will soon be part, and only what's done for Christ will last.

        Vernon Grounds in Christianity Today says, "The Bible puts on top things that man puts on bottom, and ranks last things that fallen man puts first. It praises the weakness which is strength and denounces the strength which is weakness. It praises the poverty which is wealth and denounces the wealth which is poverty. It praises the dying which is living and denounces the living which is dying. No wonder, then that it praises the failure which is success and denounces the success which is failure. No wonder, either that in ! Corinthians 3:12 Paul warns us that the achievements which the world prizes as gold, silver and precious stones God may write off as wood, hay and stubble."

        When the Holy Spirit through Paul calls the roll of those who were great and successful as God's servants, the overwhelming majority, according as the world judges turn out to be failures. Many of those listed in chapter 11 of Hebrews died as criminals. As one has said, they are "not exactly the sort of ecclesiactical dignitaries who get invited to a presidential prayer breakfast."

        In the eyes of the world, greatness is established by how they measure up. Rank, status, strength, power, intellect, wealth, beauty, education, culture, skill, achievement -- these are all areas in which people strive to excel as a means of attaining greatness. These are the things by which they assess their personal value. They are continually motivated to move up the ladder because the world evaluates them in terms of their skills and accomplishments.

        The world has formulated it Beatitudes, thus:

        "Blessed are the rich; for they shall inherit the earth."

        Blessed are th light hearted; for they shall have many friends."

        Blessed are the respectable; for they shall be respected."

        Blessed are they who are not troubled by a sensitive conscience; for they shall succeed in life."

        Blessed are they who can indulge their appetites to the full; for they shall be filled."

        Blessed are they who have no need to conciliate their rivals; for they will be saved from anxiety." Blessed are they who have no poor relations; for they shall be delivered from annoyance."

        Blessed are they of whom all men speak well."

        The world's code says, "Do as other do; don't be singular; never offend against good taste; have a tinge of religion but remember that too much is impracticable for daily life; whatever you do, don't be poor; never yield an inch, unless you are going to make something by the concession; take every advantage of bettering your position, it matters not at what cost to others -- they must look after themselves, as you to yourself."

        T. S. Eliot made the statement, "Most trouble in the world is caused by people who want to be important." It is true that the driving desire to be greater, to be bigger, to have more acclaim, and to be thought of as being very important and having great worth is the seedbed for an enormous amount of human sinfulness, greed and suffering. Attempting to measure a person's significance by where he or she fits on the social structure or rates on the accomplishment scale or measures up in terms of physical appearance is insidious. It tricks people into wasting their lives in an impossible, endless, and ultimately meaningless quest for a kind of significance that is devoid of eternal value. It seduces them to forget the rapid transitoriness of this physical world. Solomon likens it to chasing the wind (Eccl. 4:4).

        It is sad but true that this desire to be great often finds its way into the church. We often hear church leaders discussing how many new programs they have introduced, how many new missionaries they have sent out, or how many new buses they have acquired to collect kids for Sunday School. I hear discussions about the numbers of people on the pastoral staff or the size of the budget. Yet, there is not even a footnote in Scripture that refers to these things as a measure toward the advancement of the Kingdom of God.

        Leslie B. Flynn said, "This spirit of using wrong standards to measure true success often infiltrates the church. Believers sometimes fall in the trap of adopting a topsy turvey value system when they take their cues from those with mansion like homes, lucrative incomes, foreign travel, and celebrity status. Even Christian leaders reason, "Why be a loser when yo can be a winner? Adopt that program that will turn your church into a brilliant success. Why not drive a Mercedes? Why not build up your church so that it has the most beautiful sanctuary in the state? Why not be known for the biggest budget or largest missionary giving in the denomination?"

        God's standards of success differ radically from those of the world. Jesus said, "That which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God" (Luke 16a;13). I think it was D. L. Moody who once said that more injury had been wrought in the church of Christ by this common human desire to be greatest than by all the immoralities and wrong doing of every description of which professed disciples have been guilty.

        Dr. H. C. Slade was pastor of the Jarius Street Baptist Church -- the most historic church in all the dominion of Canada. One day a young preacher sat in his office and said to Dr. Slade, "This is a great church. It has a historic testimony of standing for the faith and hundreds have been saved and blessed by her ministry. If you find a church like this, one that is looking for a pastor I hope you will recommend me." "Dr. Slade said, "It nearly knocked me off my feet." Then he said to this young preacher, "Well son, if I ever find a church like this looking for a pastor like you, I will sure recommend you."

        Success, according to divine criteria laid down in I Corinthians 12, is not based on spell binding pulpit oratory, depth of knowledge, accomplishments of faith, nor the numbers game, but on love without which the other items are but clanging gongs. Success is also related to service after the pattern of Jesus Christ, who came not to be waited upon but to minister as a servant. Success also issues from faithfulness to the task, even humdrum and monotonous and inconspicous. Service inspired by love and performed in faithfulness is what constitutes success in God's sight.

        According to Luke 22:24, there "arose a heated dispute among the disciples over which one of them seemed to be greatest." This was not the first time that such an argument had errupted among Jesus' apostles. On at least two previous occasions, Jesus had to correct their thinking.

        How sad that on this critical night, Jesus found himself having to remind them again what a Christian minister shoud truly be. He said, "Let him that is the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the one acting as chief as the one ministering" (Lluke 22:26).

        It should not surprise us that the apostles had an erroneous idea about the importance of position and prominence. Prior to Jesus, their principal example in the matter of religious leadership had been provided by the scribes and Pharisees. Instead of giving people spiritual guidance and direction, these false ministers endorsed rigid traditions and rules that "shut up the kingdom of the heavens before men." They were position oriented, prominence seeking, self centered individuals who performed their works "to be viewed by men" (Matthew 23:4, 5, 13).

        In the Greek the word used for "minister" (deacon) represents, "not status but the serving relationship of the minister to the one served. It is following the example of Christ.

        In harmony with the correct definition of the word "minister," Jesus spent himself giving to others. "The Son of man came," he explained patiently, "not to be ministered to, but to minister and to give his soul a ransom in exchange for many" (Matthew 20:28). Jesus unselfishly used his time, energy, and ability to help others physically and spiritually. Why? Because he felt pity for the spiritually abused crowds that flocked to see him. He wanted to help. Generous love is what motivated his ministry, and he wanted his disciples to display the same giving attitude (Matthew 9:36).

        Jesus taught his ministers to be laborers, spiritual fishermen and shepherds, not mystics and academics in special garband regalia (Matthew 4:19; 23:5; John 21:15-17). Those who imitate his excellent example and walk in the selfless pattern set by Jesus Christ, giving of themselves freely to provide spiritual help and the comport of the good news to others, show themselves to be true ministers of God.

II.   God's Standard For Greatness

Matt. 10:37 through Matt. 10:39 (KJV)
³⁷ He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. ³⁸ And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. ³⁹ He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

        God's great are those, who from everywhere and every condition, live the beautiful, sweet life. They are always true to the highest and noblest things. Rich or poor learned or unlearned, God's great may be found everywhere. It is not what we possess but what we are that makes us great. True greatness is a quality of the heart; it is not an external thing at all. It is essentially not circumstantial; it consists in what a man is at the very core of his being, not in the position he occupies, not in any human estimation of his work. Many of the world's greatest men by this estimate have been esteemed as the offscouring of the earth. And by this estimate many men, who the world has called great, have been essentially littleness personified.

        Dying to self and selfish desires and serving others is God's way to real happiness. One who does such is a great person when measured by God's standard. It is most difficult to change our selfishness into self denial. The trouble with most of us is "I" trouble. We think "I,: we talk "I" and we so often live "I." A telephone poll revealed that in five hundred conversations the word "I" was used five thousand times. Its persistent use may determine the degree of selfishness in our lives.

        A mother said to Billy, "You ate that cake without even thinking of your sister." Billy replied, "No, I was thinking of her all the time I was eating it. I was afraid she would come in."

        A prominent theologian classified seven cardinal sins. One was selfishness and the other six were selfishness. May God help us to crucify self.

        Some years ago a lovely lady in Atlanta was recognized as Atlanta's woman of the year in civic affairs. Her service had been unmatched by any other woman during the year. When asked to speak, she said, "If I have served, I am thankful for the priviledge of serving. Some people have asked me why I put so much time in civic work, and I will let you in on a secret. Years ago I decided I did not want to die without having lived, that I wanted to give myself in a small way to help others. I have received real enjoyment in giving myself.

        Albert Schwietzer said, "I don't know what your destiny will be but one thing I know; the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve. A son of a missionary spent some time with Dr. Schwietzer making his rounds and treating the people he loved in a hospital in Africa. He was asked if he thought the people ever realized what a great man Albert Schwietzer was. He said, "No they probably didn't. They knew a man full of compassion, who simply loved them. That made him great in their eyes."

        John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, had that same peace. By today's standards, John Wesley earned hundreds of thousands of dollars through his preaching and his books. But unlike many of today's well known evangelists, he put his money where his mouth was, as we often say. Would you listen intently to this beautiful passage from his Journal, his personal diary, written in 1767, as he described his use of his money:

        "Since the Lord has not only been gracious to my soul but has entrusted me with a share of this world's good, I am under an equal obligation to be faithful, in this as in the other gifts of God. I have about forty seven pounds a year.

        As to my disbursements for apparel, I buy the most lasting and , in general, the plainest I can. I buy no furniture but what is necessary and cheap. I make my own fire, and get my own breakfast and supper. I pay six pence to one of our friends for my dinner. I drink her tea, and thereby save at least a shilling a week. I seldom drink tea in the afternoon, but sup at six, on bread and cheese, with milk and water; so I save at least eight pence by dropping tea in the afternoon. . . To be short, the expense for myself -- meat, drink, clothes, and washing, is not twenty eight pounds per annum; so that I have near twenty pounds to return to God in the poor.

        Now, if every Christian family, while in health, would thus far deny themselves, would twice a week dine on the cheapest food, drink in general herb tea, faithfully calculate the money saved thereby, and give it to the poor over and above their usual donations, we should then hear no complaining in our streets, but the poor would eat and be satisfied. He that gathered much would have nothing over, and he that gathered little would have no lack.

        O that God would stir up the hearts of all that believe themselves His children, to evidence it by showing mercy to the poor, as God has shown them mercy! Surely the real children of God will do it of themselves; for it is the natural fruit of a branch in Christ.

III.   Real Happiness And Joy Is Ours When We Live For Others

Matt. 16:24 (KJV)
²⁴ Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

        One has said; "Christianity leaves no room for self seeking." To take up the cross and follow Jesus is the only way to real life.

John 10:10 (KJV)
¹⁰ The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

        Not only does the Bible teach us that great truth but many have borne witness that it was true in their lives. A Christian businessman heard his pastor tell about a poor widow sho had been evicted from her home because she had no money to pay the rent. Her furniture was piled up on the lawn. She didn't know what to do or where she could go. The pastor said if someone would help her, he would have a "fortaste of heaven." This businessman went to see her. He returned to church that night and said, "I have just been to heaven. I went to see that widow, paid her back rent, helped her move her belongings back into the house and stocked her cupboard with food. It is the most joy I have experienced in many years." The more unselfish we become the more heavenly joy we will experience right now."

        A young doctor gave up a wealthy practice and went abroad as a medical missionary. His father visited him and saw him perform several difficult operations. One of these operations lasted several hours. His father asked him, "How much would you get for that operation in the United States?" The young doctor replied, "I would probably receive $1,000 for it there. Here I get nothing but the knowledge that I have helped someone.

        A preacher visited a very poor family living in a delapidated shack. As he left, he found one of the boys admiring his shiny new car. The preacher, embarrassed by the contrast between the splendor of his car and the squalor of the shack, explained to the boy that the car was a gift from his brother. "O mister," the boy exclaimed. "I wish I could be a brother like that." The preacher was sure he had misunderstood the boy. He thought he meant to say. "I wish I had a brother like that." He asked him to repeat what he had said." "I said," the little boy answered, "O, I wish I could be a brother like that." He had already learned the secret of being great and at the same time how to be happy.

        A rich woman gave liberally to her church and to missions. But she was not satisfied. She said that this was not enough, she wanted to do something else. So she went to the mission office and offered her services. They told her that they needed no help except for someone to wrap bundles of literature. She promptly said that she would be glad to do this. So day after day this rich woman came and wrapped the bundles. This was a humble, tedious service, but she gladly gave herself to it. That is what we need today -- people who are willing to do anything that they can for God.

        D. L. Moody was a man determined to serve God. He said, "I do not know anything America needs more today than men and women on fire with the fire of heaven; not great men, but true, honest persons God can use." The Lord took a man like D. L. Moody, a man without education, and made of him a mighty soul winner. He led him also to the establishment of three schools which are prospering today -- Moody Bible Institute and two schools in the northeast -- all of this, plus a thousand other things, which come down to this day. Why? Because a man had determination to live for God, to obey God, and to be steadfast through all of his days.

IV.   Do You Desire To Be Great?

        Dr. T. T. Shields: "Our Lord does not forbid our entertaining an ambition to be great, to be truly great. That is not the point of censure here. There is really no merit in being content with littleness, littleness of soul, of moral and spiritual stature, or of mental capacity, either. There is no special merit in being content with littleness of position, or limitation of serviceable ability. I am afraid sometimes we are disposed to make a virtue of these things, and from sheer indolence, from an indisposition to bestir ourselves to seek any development or enlargement of our powers, we assume that it is rather a virtuous thing just to be content with a little life, and with a very small sphere of influence." What Jesus condemned was the desire to be the greatest.

        What a blessed thing it is when you find people inspired by the divine Spirit to seek the very best that God has laid up for them, resolved that they will not be content with a place on the lower levels of life, but will endeavor to be spiritually great. It ought to be our ambition to be the very best Christians that it is possible for the grace of God to make us, to be the most useful servants, to desire, not only that every year, but that every day should mark definite and perhaps distinguishable progress in the things of God. Let us then desire to be, in the truest sense, great men and great women before God.

        Dr. Hobbs; "So Christian greatness consists in the attitude and willingness which leads us to perform for the Lord any needed task regardless of how ordinary or menial it may be. Such greatness is not determined by how many people serve us, but by how many people we serve . . . in Jesus' name. Lord, help us to be great by thy standards, not by those of the world! Someone has said, "God is looking for men who are big enough to be small enough to be used of God in a big way."

        If we would be great, we must begin just as little children, and remember that before Him we never grow up, that even the biggest man is nothing to a little child. When John was old, to whom as to Paul, abundance of revelations had been given, he was accustomed to sit -- so legend said -- where the people went up to worship, and as they passed him he paid them no compliments. He esteemed none of them as being great. He was content to say, "Little children, love one another." And yet he was one of those men whose mother came to Jesus and said, "Grant that my two sons may sit, the one thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom." John had learned to put all that under his feet, and to live as a little child before his Father.

        How to be great -- "Do not try to do a great thing; you may waste all your life waiting for the opportunity which may never come. But since little things are always claiming your attention, do them as they come, from a great motive, for the glory of God, to win His smile of approval, and do good to men. It is harder to plod in obscurity, acting thus, than to stand on the high places of the field, within the view of all, and do deeds of valor at which rival armies still to gaze. But no such act goes without the swift recognition and the ultimate recompense of Christ.

        To fulfill faithfully the duties of your station; to use to the uttermost the gifts of your ministry; to bear the chafing unthankful and evil; to be content to be martyrs who bore the pillory and stake; to find the one noble trait in people who try to molest you; to put the kindest construction on unkind acts and words; to love with the love of God even the unthankful and evil; to be content to be a fountain in the midst of a wild valley of stones, nourishing a few lichens and wild flowers, or now and again a thirsty sheep; and to do this always, and not for the praise of man, but for the sake of God -- this makes a great life." -- F. B. Meyer

        Dr. Tom Dooley gives us some mighty good advice when he said, "Dedicate some of your life to others. Your dedication will not be sacrifice, it will be an exhilarating experience because it is intense effort applied toward a meaningful end.

Matt. 10:39 (KJV)
³⁹ He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

        "What can I do for you, Madam?" Abraham Lincoln asked as elderly lady who had been ushered into his private office. Placing a covered basket on the table she said, "Mr. President, I have come here today not to ask any favor for myself or for anyone. I heard that you were very fond of cookies, and I came here to bring you this basket of cookies!" Tears trickled down the gaunt face of the great President. He stood speechless for a moment; then he said, "My good woman, your thoughtful and unselfish deed greatly move me. Thousands have come into this office since I became president, but you are the first one to come asking no favor for yourself or somebody else!"

        Dale Carnegie was certainly right when he spoke these words; "One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us tend to put off living. We are all dreaming of some magic rose garden over the horizon instead of enjoying the roses that are blooming outside our windows today."

        Bill Hybels in his book, Christians Under Construction says something worth listening to; "Madison Avenue would like to have you think that if you don't have a vegematic and a swimming pool and two weeks in Hawaii every year and new clothes and fancy cars, you're really missing out on life. But I have yet to meet anyone who derived inner peace from these things. On the other hand, if you'll address yourself to the real issues and let Jesus Christ have control of your life, you'll find that God can give you a contentment that makes you look around and be thankful for what you have rather than being anxious about how you can get more. In other words, Jesus Christ can but your values in perspective."

        Have you put off living? Have you sought peace through things? You can start living today if you take Christ as Savior, take up your cross (die to self) and live your life for others. It may sound false but you'll find it to be true.