We all want to be great, honored, revered, and well thought of. But what is true greatness? We should want a greatness that will last and lift others up when they hear our story.

The Apostle John speaks of two men he knew. One was named Diotrephes. John said of him, "[He] loves to be first [and] will have nothing to do with us" (3 John, verse 9). Diotrephes strove to be first by his own manipulation. John said he was a malicious gossip (v. 10).

Gossip is a tool used by "wannabes" to level the playing field by tearing down every potential threat. Diotrephes excluded those whom he saw as rivals to his position. John also said he was inhospitable and hindered others from doing good things that did not center on himself (v. 10).

Diotrephes was a miserable person because he gained whatever prominence he had by his own power and, therefore, had to maintain his position by the same tactics. He had no rest; every person was a rival.

The other man John spoke of was named Demetrius. John said that Demetrius was well spoken of by everyone (v. 12). Demetrius was a good guy. He probably had the attitude of a servant. He was no rival and had no rivals. In everyone's opinion (except Diotrephes') Demetrius was the great one.

The desire to be great and prominent is not wrong in itself. It is in the means of achieving greatness that problems arise.

Jesus taught His disciples about true greatness in Matthew 20. He spoke of the Gentile or world system. He said that they have rulers who "lord it over them" and "high officials [who] exercise authority over them" (v. 25). This system is familiar to all of us. You work to gain power, and then you exercise your power. Everyone wants to be the boss.

Jesus taught His disciples, "Not so with you" (v. 26). Jesus was instituting a different system. He said, in verses 26 and 27, "Whoever wants to become great among you [Jesus never discounted greatness] must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave."

That is a new system. It's upside-down from all conventional thinking. Where is the power? Where is the position? How can you maintain? These are all pertinent questions.

If one takes on the role of servant or slave, won't everyone else treat them like a slave and tell them what to do? Yes, they will; and the only way to maintain any sense of well-being in seeking greatness the way Jesus taught is to have a deep, abiding faith in God's power and ability to exalt you in His time.

The Apostle Peter said it well: "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you" (1 Peter 5:6-7).

True greatness is achieved by putting ourselves under the authority of God in the way of Jesus. Jesus humbled Himself (Philippians 2:8) and put Himself under man's dominance, trusting God to exalt Him. God did and will!

The lifting up by God will always come in God's time. God never reversed the circumstances in Jesus' life as He humbled Himself in obedience to God Almighty, but He raised Jesus from the dead. That is ultimate exaltation.

Peter summed it up by saying, "Cast all your anxiety on him." There are a lot of anxious moments in humbling yourself, because you never know what it might ultimately cost. Peter said that God both sees and cares.

The greatness God gives can never be taken away—no threats, no rivals. Be great!