Six Qualities of True Greatness

In March, Sports Illustrated’s cover story featured ”The 10 Greatest Players” in the 75 years of the NCAA basketball tournament.  In sports we love greatness.  Great plays.  Great players.  Great teams.

In America we admire greatness in all fields. Business.  Politics. And militarily .

But what is true greatness?  And is greatness compatible with Christianity?  When the angel Gabriel appeared to the Priest Zacharias and foretold of the birth of his son, John, he made this prediction “He will be great in the sight of the Lord” (Lk. 1:15).

What an incredible statement!  What a prediction!   Why did the angel say that?

Here are six qualities that made John great in the sight of the Lord. And will empower us to spiritual greatness if we follow them.

1.  John Remembered God in his youth.  Luke said “the child grew and became strong in spirit.”  Of course, he had a good foundation.  His parents “were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord.”

Godly parents give a child a good start toward spiritual greatness. Fathers are commanded to teach, train and admonish their children “in the Lord” (Eph 6:4). However, as young people mature, they have a choice.  The wise man said, “Even a child is known by his actions…” (Prov 20:11).  Remember your Creator in the days of your youth” is important for spiritual success.

2. He Practiced Self-Control.  John did not drink wine or strong drink.  He lived a simple life.  An ascetic life. Even by the standards of that day he lived an austere lifestyle.  The point is not that we should all go live in the wilderness!  But John was self-disciplined.  Practiced self-control.  And exercised moral restraint.

There used to be a TV commercial that urged, “You only go around once.  So grab for all the gusto you can get!”  The spot advertised beer!  That’s the mantra of today’s culture.  Drinking.  Partying!  Letting loose!  The implication is that you will not only have fun, but be a big success!  The Bible says just the opposite.  Be sober.  Show constraint. Practice chastity.

3. John knew his mission in life.  He was the prophesied forerunner to Jesus.  He quoted Isaiah who said John was “A voice of one calling in the desert,  ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. (Lk. 3:4).  John preached the coming of Christ.  He prepared the way.  He raised awareness of the Messiah.

Mission in life is important to achieving one’s potential. Why are you here?  What should you be doing?  How should you live?  Who should you serve?  Discovering Biblical answers to these questions and obeying them, will make you “great in the sight of the Lord.”

4. He was courageous.  John was plain in his preaching. Powerful in his presentation of Truth.  Pointed in his application.  He condemned sin. Extolled righteousness. Revealed the hypocrisy of the Pharisees.  Rebuked Herod for his immorality.  Indeed he was not “a reed shaken by the wind!”

True greatness is not accepting culture’s political correctness.  Nor following the mindless majority.  It is speaking up!  Speaking out!  Saying what needs to be said, when it needs to be said, and to whom it needs to be said.

5. John was zealous.  When you read Luke 3 you feel the fervor of his spirit.  The passion of his soul.  The “fire in his belly.”  John accepted his mission, proclaimed his message, and enthusiastically embraced his divine purpose.  Christians should be “zealous of good works.”  Fervent in spirit.”  “Enthusiastic givers.”  Indeed greatness is fueled by passion.

6. Yet John was a humble man.  John knew who he was. And he knew who he wasn’t!  The Pharisees demanded to know if he was the Messiah. He emphatically said, “No!  I am not worthy to unloose his sandal strap.”  He humbly admitted, “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

Greatness in the eyes of God is not seen in chest-thumbing, or heard through boastful assertions.  C.S. Lewis once said, “True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is think of yourself less.” This was true of John, and will be true of us, if we achieve true greatness.