We’re addicted to ourselves. If you’re not convinced, just log on to Facebook sometime. Facebook is widely known as a narcissistic playground where most people broadcast the best, funniest, and most charming aspects of their lives. It seems that everyone on Facebook appears to have an awesome life, one filled with fun adventures, exciting romances, amazing jobs, cool gadgets, and sumptuous meals. No question about it. We’re into ourselves. We’re interested in being the greatest. But does becoming intoxicated with ourselves really lead to greatness?

Recently I read a statement that caught my attention: “The gospel frees us from our addiction to ourselves!” That is a powerful statement. It is also a true statement. Before Christ redeems us and sets us free we are like alcoholics intoxicated with ourselves. We are not as interested in serving as we are in being served. We are not as interested in giving as we are in receiving. We are not as interested in pursuing God’s way as we are in getting our way. We are not interested in being the least. We’re interested in being the greatest. We are certain that the way to greatness is not by an obedience that leads to death, by being last and servant of all, or by pursuing a life that involves some serious suffering. And yet, this is exactly what Jesus says as He lays before us the road to true greatness—greatness as defined by God.

The disciples never really understood this while Jesus was with them. It seems they were always arguing with each other over who was the greatest among them. Can you imagine what some of the disciples might have posted on Facebook? Whatever they might have posted, you can be sure they would have touted themselves with evidence to prove how great they were. It’s easy to criticize the disciples—but they were just doing what we all do. We have our own little spheres of life that are important to each of us, and our natural tendency is to argue that we are the greatest.

We compare our place in life and our standing with our peers. We measure the awesomeness of our lives by our wealth, our toys, and our vacations. When we meet someone new, or reconnect with someone from our past on Facebook, we immediately size him up—hoping he is beneath us. We find ourselves racing…always racing to get ahead.

In our text this week (Mark 9:30-41) we see Jesus turning the value systems of this world upside down. What He has to say is hard for the disciples to hear and understand (v. 32). “No, that’s not how it works in my kingdom,” He says in so many words. “You’ve got it completely wrong—wrong rules, wrong goals, wrong motives.”

Ours is a world where “everything is about me!” Greatness, by the world’s standard, can be measured by how well we’re doing on the Facebook scale. But true greatness is achieved according to the Lord’s rule. And this is the rule: “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.”