Greatest Strife Or Greatest Service?

Family – June 2014 – Grace & Truth Magazine

Greatest Strife Or Greatest Service?

“And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be greatest. And He said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? Is not he that sitteth at meat? But I am among you as He that serveth.” —Luke 22:24-27 KJV

Greatness In Word
There are many conversations that take place which show the pride in our hearts. The conversation presented in the verses above took place right after the Lord Jesus had given the disciples a way to remember Him. But just as we sometimes do, they forgot that they were sitting in His presence – so the conversation turned to who was greatest among them. How often have we been part of conversations that are similar as we compare one with another and find ourselves even sitting together at the table arguing.

I read an article recently about a group of people that were evaluated and it was found that the average person among them typically had 27 conversations per day. Of those conversations, 43% were found to be meaningless. The disciples’ conversation would have been meaningless too had not the Lord Jesus entered into it to give the proper measure of greatness: First to be “as the younger,” and second to be “as he that doth serve [a servant].” The Lord was among them as one that served. We should seek to be more like Him! We are reminded of the following words: “... but made Himself of no reputation [the younger], and took upon Him the form of a servant” (Phil. 2:7). We are told in Philippians 2:5 to “let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” The Lord Jesus is now a servant in the glory caring for the needs of His own, but He has left us here to follow His example even in what we talk about. May what we say be a meaningful service for Him.

Greatness In Work
How great a person the Lord Jesus is to stoop down, the greatest humbling one could ever make, to the death of the cross. That work completed, He is now crowned with glory and honor. But there are other things about His greatness that we can consider.

First, we have: “In the greatness of Thine excellency Thou hast overthrown them that rose up against Thee: Thou sentest forth Thy wrath, which consumed them as stubble” (Ex. 15:7). The children of Israel had just been redeemed by God’s power – delivered from the powers of Egypt through an act of God on their behalf which the Israelites could all witness. Their song first relates what God has done and then tells of what He has become to them. How precious is the greatness of both the love and power shown here – that God would take these poor trembling people for Himself. By this, God’s excellence is seen not only in the great triumph, but also in His character. Samuel Medley (1738-1799) wrote: “How rich the character He bears, and all the form of love He wears exalted on the throne.” No other one is so excellent. The Lord Jesus perfectly displayed His excellence when He came into this world. So in Him we have the greatest example, the greatest stoop, the greatest service and the greatest character. The psalmist rightly said, “His greatness is unsearchable” (Ps. 145:3).

How wonderful it is when His greatness is seen in our works. “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him” (Col. 3:17). Maybe when sitting at our table we find out that someone needs help with something and we know that we have the power to help. Do we wait for someone else to do the task or do we rise from supper and help? Do you remember that the Lord Jesus in John 13 rose from supper, laid aside His garments, girded Himself with a towel and stooped down to wash the disciples’ feet? The greatness of His works have been answered by the glory that is His as a Man in heaven “on the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Heb. 1:3).

Greatness In Worth
Let’s consider another portion: “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with Him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones” (Isa. 57:15). I am reminded of this verse when I hear of strife in the family setting, as the different members seek to establish their own place above the others. Instead we need to humble ourselves by looking to the Lord Jesus – the one who is so great that He inhabits eternity! We are on this earth for such a short time, but He will never be missing for one moment of eternity. Such characteristics of Him often seem to escape our thoughts and conversations.

What is especially touching is the greatness of God’s grace by which He would dwell in the hearts of those who are humble and contrite. There is a song that falls short of the perfection of the Scriptures, but it still has a point: “How big is God? How big and wide His vast domain; To try to tell this lips can only start. He’s big enough to rule the mighty universe, yet small enough to live within my heart.” Another song that comes to mind, speaking of our wonderful Savior, is “Sing of His greatness, infinite greatness, sing of His goodness day after day; guarding from evil, shielding from danger, leading us onward, cheering the way. We will adore Him, gather and praise Him, voices in concert joyfully blend! His be the kingdom, power and glory, now and forever, world without end!” May the Lord Jesus grant that our conversations not only be meaningful but also worthy of Him who loved us and gave Himself for us. Consider His eternal greatness.

Greatness In Heart
Last, may we think of the words of David in 1 Chronicles 17:19-20: “O LORD, for Thy servant’s sake, and according to Thine own heart, hast Thou done all this greatness, in making known all these great things. O LORD, there is none like Thee, neither is there any God beside Thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.” For David these words were precious as God spoke of the future of his house. How wonderful if God could speak of our households in such a way, of our responding to Him in worship as we consider the greatness of His heart. One can’t help but recall the words of Paul: “But God who is rich in mercy for His great love wherewith He loved us ...” (Eph. 2:4).

What God did for David’s house is exceeded now by what He has done in the greatness of His love for the household of faith. How wonderful it is to think of His love for each one of us and for our households. No one can compare with Him! He deserves the worship of our hearts, not only in eternity but also now in our homes. Do we set time aside to speak just of Him when together with family and friends? The Lord Jesus, by the Spirit of God that indwells believers, can help us to speak of His words, works and worth, and to speak to Him in worship. Let us serve the Lord Jesus gladly in word and work while we are in this world that has rejected Him. At any moment now, when the Lord comes for His own, our service for Him here on earth will end. Until then, may we be moved by the greatness of His person.

By Philip Pilon

The Greatest The controversy among the disciples as to which one of them was the greatest is peculiar to Luke. But the manifestation of such a spirit showed itself naturally on other occasions; and how terribly has this spirit shown itself through all the history of the Church. It is evident that we are to read this warning in Luke as given: an open, evident opposition to the spirit of Him who was now descending so manifestly to the lowest depths of His humiliation – to that which, above all, our necessity and His love united to bring Him into. The disciples did not understand that the humbling oneself as a little child is the way of greatness in His work. As He had done before, the Lord reminded them of the essential difference between dignity among fallen men and that where divine love ruled – the greater as the younger, and the leader as in the servant’s place. Who was the greater in men’s thoughts: the one who was at table or the one that served there? What did they see in Him? The Greatest was the One who served them all! —F. W. Grant (adapted), The Numerical Bible.