Whoever Desires to Become Great Today's Three-minute Bible Study Print, Study and Apply Title: Whoever Desires to Become Great Keywords: "ambition” “love” “servant" Welcome to eXXit, the web site designed to help you stand strong in the face of sexual temptation. Passage: Mark 10:35-45* 35. And James and John, the two sons of Zebedee, came up to Him, saying to Him, "Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask of You." 36. And He said to them, "What do you want Me to do for you?" 37. And they said to Him, "Grant that we may sit in Your glory, one on Your right, and one on [Your] left." 38. But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking for. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?" 39. And they said to Him, "We are able." And Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink you shall drink; and you shall be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized. 40. "But to sit on My right or on [My] left, this is not Mine to give; but it is for those for whom it has been prepared." 41. And hearing this, the ten began to feel indignant with James and John. 42. And calling them to Himself, Jesus said to them, "You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them; and their great men exercise authority over them. 43. "But it is not so among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; 44. and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all. 45. "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." Questions 1. What are the five top things you hope for in life?   2. What's the difference between being great in the world’s eyes and great in the kingdom of heaven?   Practical help Ambition without love breeds cold, harsh, self-centered behavior. Ambition with love for God and from God breeds selfless behavior where the individuals are willing to sacrifice their own comforts and advancement for another form of success. The difference between these two directions is huge in terms of lifestyle here and payout in heaven. Those who lay up their treasures in heaven are promised untold rewards later. The question is — can you wait? Can you delay personal gratification now for something better later? And can you sacrifice personal appetites including sexual addictions in order to love better and serve better? If you aren’t sure, take a look at what Jesus sacrificed in order to win your admittance into heaven. If it wasn’t an easy road for him and his disciples, let’s not expect it will be easy for us either. However, let me quickly add that the road that appears easy — that of filling one’s appetites — turns bitter and hopelessly sad in the end. As Jesus said in Matthew 7:13-14: Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it. For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it. eXXit homepage Index of three-minute studies Copyright 1998, 2003 by eXXit *"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, © Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission." ---