A New Definition of Greatness

A week ago today, the morning after the Superbowl, Dodge was taken to task by many in the public and the media for using Dr. Martin Luther King’s voice to sell trucks in a Superbowl ad.  Whatever you think of the ad, what I really want to do is take a look at the quote of Dr. King: “If you want to be great, wonderful. But recognize that he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. That’s a new definition of greatness. By giving that definition of greatness, it means that everybody can be great…. You only need a heart full of grace, soul generated by love.”

Dr. King was essentially quoting and modernizing the words of Jesus in Mark 10: 43-44: “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all” (NIV). In context (Mark 10:35-42), Jesus is setting his followers straight about the servant leaders how would appoint in his everlasting kingdom of love and light when he returns to Earth — about what kind of heart and soul would be required to serve with him as builders and shepherds of that greatest kingdom.

If we want to serve with great impact in eternity, we must develop hearts of humble kindness and souls of sacrificial love.