“Whoever desires to become great among you must be your servant.” Mat 20:26

I never got a participation trophy growing up. I never had a “Better Luck Next Time” medal hung around my neck either. Hard to imagine, right? What’s even more shocking is that despite this blatant and painful disregard for my self-esteem, I did not carry any deep emotional wounds with me through life 😉.

We live in a time when so much of what was once considered normal has been turned on its head. Since when was mediocrity celebrated? People are actually discouraged, at times maligned for being exceptional. The slogan to Make America Great Again was recast by hair-on-fire TV commentators as though it was Hitlerian Heresy. People who become powerful or successful are often treated with suspicion if not disdain. Achievers are even labelled as “Oppressors”.

These inverted perceptions are none other than a Slewfoot sleight of hand. As deception is loosed in unprecedented ways in our time, we must be discerning, alert, astute.

I love the way Jesus handled a potentially explosive situation. The mother of James and John wanted her sons to be rewarded with seats next to Jesus in the Kingdom of God. Today’s TikTok philosophers would have canceled her in a heartbeat! Throngs of culture cops would have insisted that everyone ought to be awarded a seat at His right hand, touting the virtues of equity.

While the other disciples were “greatly displeased/indignant” with the brothers, it is fascinating that Jesus didn’t rebuke James and John. Greatness was not a problem for Jesus. In fact, He affirms the “desire to be great”, while adding a caveat. When one’s position and influence grows, it must not be used to “exercise authority over” others, but rather to serve them–to use resources to enhance and strengthen those around us.

People who have been surrounded or impacted by abusive leaders mistakenly assume that only people who are corrupt, selfish, or ambitious for the wrong reasons rise to powerful positions. They need to meet godly examples, none better than Jesus, the greatest man in history. Another standard-bearer is David who exemplified qualities that have been studied and emulated for nearly three millennia. One of my favorites traits is the way he praised and honored his most extraordinary warriors with testimonies of their bravery, extolling by name the mightiest thirty in his whole army.

2 Sam 7:11 says that as soon as King Hiram of Tyre heard David had been crowned he sent Lebanese cedars, carpenters, and masons to bless David and build him a massive palace. Did you wonder why after the election Zuckerberg and Bezos joined Musk in pledging support for Trump’s agenda. Heads of State from Argentina, Canada, and Mexico showed up at Mar-a-Lago. Macron wanted to buddy-up with him in Paris. A Japanese banker committed $100 billion to the US economy. Hamas declared it wanted peace. The stock market soared. The reason is clear: they all recognized and responded to greatness.

Contrary to the the spirits and “wisdom” of this age, we should never shy away from pursuing excellence or achieving awesome things. David used his immense authority to suppress idolatry and thwart unthinkable evil. He handed Solomon the most prosperous and peaceful period of Israel’s history. The structures and stability he put in place allowed creativity and the arts to flourish. We need more of God’s people to desire, then step up into greatness.

There are no “Better Luck Next Time” medals in Heaven.

“So David went on and became great, and the Lord God of hosts was with him.” 2 Sam 5:10