Greatness and Growth in God's Kingdom

Paul said, “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it” (1 Corinthians 9:24). To borrow a phrase that you sometimes hear tossed around during sporting events and other competitions, Christians are “in it to win it.” No Christian that has given the matter any real thought wants to finish his or her race and receive a participation trophy; as Paul goes on to say, we “do it… for an imperishable crown” (1 Corinthians 9:25). However, all too frequently that is not all that we want.

On at least three occasions, Jesus’ disciples argued amongst themselves as to which of them would be the greatest: once after Jesus revealed His death and betrayal to them (Luke 9:46-48); once on the road to Capernaum (Matthew 18:1-6; Mark 9:33-37); once on the very eve of Jesus’ crucifixion while they were partaking the Passover meal (Luke 22:24-30). On one occasion, two disciples were joined by their mother in taking the case for their greatness straight to Jesus (Matthew 20:20-28; Mark 10:35-45). As I reflect upon the frequency with which this argument came up among the disciples, I find it interesting that I have never once heard Christians talk like this (at least not about their discipleship; Christians can still get competitive about sports and games). I have heard Christians talk about who their favorite preacher is, and I’ve heard them sing the praises of a fellow Christian who they believed was more mature, wise, godly, or talented than they were. I have never heard a Christian say to another Christian though, “You know that I’m the greatest disciple around here, right?”

Has something changed to the point that individual greatness is no longer a concern amongst Jesus’ disciples? I wish that were the case. I think the truth is simply that the conversations, reflections, and desires have changed. Prior to Pentecost, most of the disciples were convinced that Jesus was going to have an earthly kingdom. As earthly kingdoms always have ranking systems and measures of greatness, it was natural for them to think that these would be at play in Jesus’ kingdom. Most Christians today though understand that Jesus’ “kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36) and along with that understand that greatness lies in love and service rather than in ranking, just as Jesus told the two disciples and their mother in the story I referenced above (Matthew 20:25-28; Mark 10:42-45). While these realizations make an argument over “the greatest disciple” status ridiculous for Christians today, they don’t remove the temptation to desire greatness or the feelings of inadequacy that come when some perceived measure of greatness remains out of reach.

Have you ever heard a congregation proudly boast of its attendance statistics, the number of baptisms it has had in a given year, or of its high giving figures? Have you ever rounded down instead of up when someone asked about the attendance at your own congregation? Have you ever taken personal satisfaction in the number of Bible studies you had or the amount that you had been blessed to give to someone else? Have you ever looked at what someone else was able to achieve in the kingdom, and, rather than simply give glory and thanks to God, felt worthless for what you have achieved in comparison? Have you ever wished that you had the talent and abilities of another Christian? These feelings and many others like them all represent our cravings for greatness.

If we understood opportunities, talents, and abilities properly, we would understand that all of them are entirely dependent upon God. There’s not a Christian who cannot say alongside of Paul, “By the grace of God I am what I am” (1 Corinthians 15:10). Giving is a grace (2 Corinthians 8:1-7), ministry is a gift of grace and mercy (Romans 15:15-16; 2 Corinthians 4:1; Ephesians 3:7-8), and every person who was ever baptized into the body of Jesus was put there to fulfill a specific role designed and empowered by the Holy Spirit of God (1 Corinthians 12:13, 24, 28-31). Yes, we do have to decide to exercise our talents and not bury them (cf. Matthew 25:18, 25), but we have far less to do with our talents and abilities than we think we do. If it were not for God, we would not live, move, or even have our being (Acts 17:28).

Also, if we understood the concept of church growth properly, we would understand that it too is entirely dependent upon God. Note very carefully Paul’s words to the preacher-praising Corinthians:The story of the Gospel’s growth in Corinth had nothing to do with Paul’s ingenuity or Apollos’ powerful preaching. These two men had been given for a period to Corinth, but rest assured, if either had not existed or had not been willing to go, God would have given Corinth someone else. Further, all the planting and watering in the world would not have amounted to anything if it had not been for “God who gives the increase” (1 Corinthians 3:7).

There is nothing wrong with trying to grow as a Christian, and in fact, there is everything right. “Earnestly desire the best gifts,” Paul told the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 12:31). However, even after you receive a gift, acknowledge that it did not come from you but from God, the giver of “every perfect gift” (James 1:17). When you do not receive a gift but notice that someone else has, simply give thanks that God has given it, and “be content with such things as you have” Hebrews 13:5). Even if you do not have someone else’s gift or someone else’s role in Jesus’ body, you have not been left without any gift or role. While not everyone has been given five talents, there is no one who does not at least have one, and they were God’s to give or not to give to begin with! And when there is growth in your church or there isn’t, don’t assume that it had nothing to do with planting or watering but also don’t assume it had everything to do with it either, for “God gives the increase” (1 Corinthians 3:7). And, without God, there would be no planting or watering to begin with!

Yes, we still argue about greatness in the kingdom of God, but we shouldn’t. Just as, “No one is good but One, that is, God” (Matthew 19:17; Mark 10:18; Luke 18:19), no one is great but One, that is, God. “So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do’” (Luke 17:10).

-Patrick Swayne  
patrick@tftw.org