"They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” - Mark 9:33-35
Greatness is understood in the world as being a ruler over others. Succeeding past others in possessions, popularity and prestige. Most men spend their lives seeking these bubbles of greatness that have their moment of glory in the eyes of men but do not an any significance eternally. Yet, Jesus Christ gave His disciples a different definition of greatness from the perspective of God.
Our Lord simply stated that one who wants to be first must be a 'servant of all.' This definition is exactly opposite of what many see as greatness yet this is the heavenly perspective. Blessed are those that seek this approval (Galatians 1:10) and not the approval of men on this earth.
It is hard at times to find such examples of true servanthood in some of the most famous great leaders of Christendom in the west. Yet when we look to other places like China and the great underground Church movement we seek some examples of true greatness.
I remember hearing the story of a brother who met with one of the most famous church leaders in China who had over 20 million under him in his network. As this brother met with this church leader he noticed his quiet unassuming character. Also he noticed he seems just like other members of the church and did not carry with himself any of the pomp or success of being such a famous leader in the church. When this brother looked down he noticed the bottom of the shoes of this leader of the chinese church and saw a hole in the bottom of his shoe.
This story speaks to my heart that true leaders of the body of Christ are servants who want to live to the standards of the church around them. They do not demand to have a better living, more possessions or special treatment. I see this as characteristic of the Apostles of old that would even go without food or comforts for the sake of the rest of the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 9:12). In the first epistle of Timothy the Apostle paul teaches that overseers must "not be a lover of money" (1 Timothy 3:3).
There is so much opposition to even this fact that one could go without to serve the rest of the body of Christ. Some would argue that if a leader is a man of God then God must prosper him financially to show that he is a godly leader. Yet this is an echoing of the false teachers of old who said: "who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain." (1 Timothy 6:5).
Servanthood does not mean a person has to live in poverty. Yet our Lord gave us the example of one that looked to others interest's before His own. And did not seek after financial gain, especially at the expense of others. Rather as the apostle paul stated: "But if we have food and clothing we will be content with that." (1 Timothy 6:8). This is one key to knowing who is a servant is one that does not love money or seek after it in his position in the kingdom of God.
One who is a servant seeks after eternal rewards and not earthy ones. A servant of all is one that remembers the poor physically and spiritually before his needs. Repeatedly Jesus our Lord told those he ministered to not promote his name but give glory to His Father. Such an example we should follow to not promote our own self but rather Him who bought us by His blood.
May God raise up many servants in the Western Church, of this kind.