True greatness for the Kingdom of God

In today’s society, you hear a lot about people talking about being the goat.

When I was growing up a goat was something that you raised on a farm.

The reputation of a goat was to eat just about anything that was in its way.

But nowadays the word goat means something else.

It means the Greatest Of All Times.

But how does one become a GOAT? What makes a person a GOAT?

There are many ways to measure greatness. Some measure greatness by social status, promotions, paychecks or bragging rights.

Some might say what makes greatest is being the best at what you do in life.

In the world of boxing, Muhammad Ali proclaimed himself “the greatest of all time.” How did he put it, “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.”

In the world of professional football, Tom Brady is proclaimed the GOAT because of his seven Super Bowl wins as an NFL quarterback.

Some might say that what makes for greatness is intellect.

If so, they would hold up the example of Albert Einstein. Einstein developed his theory of relativity when he was 26 years old, and therefore, some say, by any measure he is great.

Others would say that what makes for greatness is courage.

If so, therefore Clara Barton should be held up as the standard. During the Civil War, Barton earned the honor of “Angel of the Battlefield.” Her work with wounded ultimately led her to found the world-wide organization known as the Red Cross. Therefore, some would argue, she is great.

Still others would say what makes for greatness is spirit. If so, they would point to Jackie Robinson. The story of Robinson, the first professional Black baseball player, is a story of triumph and perseverance over adversity. If you’ve heard his story you know the insults that were hurled at him.

His story is the triumph of the human spirit. On April 15, 1947, Robinson broke baseball’s color barrier when he made his historic MLB debut. Major League Baseball remembers his spirit each year when all teams wear the number 42 as their jersey number on Jackie Robinson Day. If you have not watch the movie 42, I highly recommend it.

Perhaps some would say that one’s contribution to humanity is what makes for greatness.

If that were the case, then few would argue against calling Jonas Salk great. It is difficult for us to imagine today the terror the word polio struck in the hearts of parents.

I well remember when I was a child and the vaccine was used on a mass scale in schools for the first time. I remember going to the high school on Sunday afternoons with my parents to receive the vaccine on a sugar cube. Many older adults received an arm injection.

However, when it comes to trying to eradicate a disease, getting large populations to actually be injected with a hypodermic needle can be difficult. But it was done. Few can deny Salk gave us a great deal.

Lastly, perhaps it is those who work for peace or those who fight for justice, as did Martin Luther King.

We all have deep within us a desire to be great. We have a desire to be the best at what we do. We have a desire to excel. No one wants to be no one.

But what is it, that measure of greatness that will get us there? True greatness is hardly ever recognized by the individual.

How can we recognize it when we see it? Jesus’ idea of being a goat was completely different. It totally confused his first 12 disciples who were arguing one day about who was the greatest disciple amongst them.

Jesus said to be a goat, one must be willing to be a servant. Jesus told them, “And he sat down and called the twelve; and he said to them, “If anyone would be first, they must be last of all and servant of all.” Mark 9:35

A servant to all. Greatness is never about self-promotion. The first 12 disciples of Jesus had to learn about that the hard way.

What does Jesus mean? Jesus is talking about having a humble servant attitude. Jesus is talking about being willing to reach out and help the lowliest of people so that we might show them the love of God.

In the end such simple acts will be greatly rewarded. Jesus also says greatness is found in service to all. Not just to the rich, not just to those who look like us, not just to those who think like us, not just to those who vote like us, or not just to those who smell like us. But a servant to all.

Jesus says we will recognize greatness when we look for it in the humble acts of love shown every day by people who are not interested in self-promotion. In doing that, we become a GOAT for the kingdom of God.

Rev. Frank Chlastak began work as senior minister of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Poplar Bluff in 2015. He is a graduate of Northeast Louisiana University and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and has served congregations of the Christian Church in Louisiana, Arkansas, Virginia, Oklahoma and Missouri.