Reflection: Consider Yourself Great (February 9, 2014)

The 5th Sunday after the Epiphany
Isaiah 58:3-9; 1 Corinthians 2:1-16; Matthew 5:13-20

Greatness in our world is limited to relatively few people. If greatness were something commonplace or something that everyone could achieve, then it wouldn't be greatness. Instead, only the outstanding people in a field of endeavor, those who have accomplished things above and beyond the others, are considered great. Tens of millions of Americans play sports and thousands make it to the professional level, but only a handful in each sport are called great. Every day thousands of new business are launched in our country, but only a few companies ever become great. Untold number of manuscripts have been written and submitted for publication, but only a small percentage of them are published, and of those only a few are considered great. As far as the world is considered, the vast majority of us are mediocre, below average, okay, proficient, etc. — something other than great.

In contrast to the world’s understanding of greatness, Jesus opens the way for every one of His disciples to be great. He doesn't do this by lowering the standard of greatness to a everyone-who-participates-gets-a-trophy way of doing things, but by providing a different and better way of understanding greatness. Rather than being exclusive, Jesus’ idea of greatness is inclusive. Instead of being elitist, the greatness He offers is for everyone.  Unlike the temporary nature of greatness in our world, His greatness is eternal. Most importantly, the greatest that Jesus holds up as worthy isn't achieved through our efforts but is something that He works in and through us. Yet it is a greatness that we only experience when we actively make use of our skills, abilities, talents, and resources as His steward-servants.

Unlike worldly greatness, our greatness in Christ is not self-serving, in fact, it’s not even for our benefit. Jesus followed His declarations of our greatness, “You are the salt of the earth” and “You are the light of the world,” with a call to use that greatness for its intended purpose: “Let your light shine for others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is heaven.” The prophet Isaiah speaks of our greatness in more specific terms: “Loose the bonds of wickedness … let the oppressed go free … share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house …” Consider yourself great in the Kingdom and live out that greatness to bring Christ and His greatness to those who are spiritually and physically in bondage, oppressed, hungry, and poor. The world is depending on your greatness and heaven is rejoicing in it.

(There is no recorded sermon available for this entry.)