How to Seek God’s Kingdom Greatness Through Service
- Jack Selcher
- Oct 8
- 3 min read
Prosperity is a tougher test than adversity. Wading through adversity is no picnic. When a loved one is dying of cancer, it’s hard. Prolonged unemployment can cause depression and discouragement. Farmers do not celebrate when their crops fail.
People react to adversity differently. Some get bitter against God. Others turn to Him as a reflex when the going gets tough. Few ignore Him during adversity.
Prosperity is even more challenging than adversity. Few people can maintain their spiritual, moral, and emotional balance when everything runs smoothly. They become proud, self-sufficient, and forget God.
In Luke 12:16-21, we find the parable of the rich man who forgot God. He felt no obligation to use his wealth to bless others (Luke 12:19). His life was only about him.
Jesus described this self-sufficient, self-centered person as foolish. Prosperity makes a fool out of almost everyone. Some foolishly preach a prosperity gospel that appeals to human selfishness and does not further God's Kingdom.
Leadership has its privileges. Nehemiah was appointed governor of Judah, the highest official in the land. That would supply a huge temptation to flex his ruling muscles and swing his authority like a baseball bat. He did not.
Many with power today exploit others for personal gain. It is a temptation of leadership. James F. Byrnes said, “Power intoxicates men. When a man is intoxicated by alcohol, he can recover, but when intoxicated by power, he seldom recovers.”1
One of Nehemiah’s privileges was his food allotment (Nehemiah 5:14). Former governors had collected food, wine, and forty shekels of silver from the people (Nehemiah 5:15). Nehemiah did not.
Many in leadership compromise their integrity. The spiritual health of Christian leaders is critical. Nehemiah did not compromise, and neither should Christian leaders.
God was his reference point. Not what had been done before. Not what others expected. Not what was most profitable for him.
Nehemiah was so solidly connected to God that when tempted, he said, “How could I do that?” That would affect his relationship with God.
No privileges or feelings of power were worth that. He feared God too much to indulge himself.
His commitment to serving God and others kept him on the narrow road. He devoted himself to rebuilding the wall. Our world would be better if our political leaders prioritized serving the people and the country's best interests in the long term.
Greatness in God’s kingdom is proportional to the number of people we serve. Service requires self-sacrifice. How to seek God's Kingdom greatness?
We must say no to our selfish interests. We can serve ourselves or God, but not both.
We serve God by serving others. Nehemiah passed the prosperity test. Can we? What is your takeaway? See additional free spiritual growth resources for Christians. #freediscipleshipresources #freeevangelismresources #freechristianleadershipresources
God has empowered me to write His Power for Your Weakness—260 Steps Toward Spiritual Strength. It’s a free, evangelistic, devotional, and discipleship e-book. Pastors have used it in Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia to lead 6,714 people to Christ and teach the basics of Christianity to 15,936 people. I invite you to explore and use it in your setting.
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