“(…) whoever wants to *become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all” Mark 10:43-44

When God declares in Isaiah 55:9 that “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts”, nothing is more true. In fact God’s perspective of things is oftentimes (if not always) shockingly the opposite of what as human beings we think. Without surprise, not many of those who cherish the dream of becoming great understand that the way to that greatness starts with the humble step of being servant. But God has summed up the leadership concept to one of its basic components, the service to others. All those who, in history, have put service to others at the heart of their lives ended up being pushed to the top and leading the multitude.

As a good pedagogue, Jesus is teaching us in Mark 10: 43-44 that humility, the genuine humility, the humility which proceeds from heart and is naturally evidenced in acts, is key to elevation. When true humility is in somebody’s life, it operates like a magnet and attracts God’s favour because “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble” (James 4:6). Observe the great men who have existed and you will notice that humility was one common denominator in their lives. Moses, David, Jesus epitomized humility and Jesus pushed humility as far as washing the feet of his disciples and giving his life as a ransom for you and me to be saved.

When you shed water on the ground, where does it naturally flow? It immediately finds its way to lower places. Have you ever asked yourself why engineers generally make sure water towers are high enough? It is for the pressure to be stronger when water flows to lower parts. It is of God’s grace as it is of water in a tower; it easily runs to humble people.

Greatness without humility culminates in disaster, dictatorship and their like. But when greatness crowns genuine humility, human beings are valued, their concerns inform leaders’ actions and societies enjoy sustainable peace. If your plan is to achieve greatness, don’t overlook humility. God would rather elevate a humble person without skills and abilities than promote a self-centred, selfish and arrogant person who is overqualified and very competent. Remember “Pride brings a person low, but the lowly in spirit gain honor”. (Proverb 29:23). God bless you!