One of my favourite books is Good to Great by Jim Collins. Before you all go out and buy a copy, I should warn you it is essentially a thesis about the characteristics that lead to excellence in business. I should really get out more!
Does the Bible have anything to add about ‘greatness’? Yes, lots, but much of it would probably confound Mr Collins . . .‘What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?' and 'But many who are first will be last, and the last first’.
Here are two biblical ‘greats’ worth building our lives on - the Greatest Commandment and the Great Commission:
‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and the most important commandment. The second most important commandment is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as you love yourself.’ (Matthew 22. 37-39)
'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.' (Matthew 28. 18-20)
Simple and familiar, yet also deeply profound, radical, challenging and transformational.
Please pray for the work of the Stewards’ Trust: that all we do, we do from a place of wholehearted love - love for God and love for people - so enabling others to do the same by helping them to know and follow Jesus.
If we were to simplify and focus daily on these commands, our work would effortlessly shift from good to great. Amen.