“Greatness comes through building others up, by aiming for their greatness more than we aim for our own.” -Chip Ingram
God allows us to have a part in the building of His kingdom, but it is not always our own thing He is having us build. Sometimes He has us help another’s dream come true, while our own is put on hold. And, this is like dying to self.
Sometimes He asks us, “Are willing to forfeit your position in order to assume a posture of humility by serving another? And are you willing to trust Me?”
Let Jesus be our example.
“Though He was God, He did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, He gave up his divine privileges when He took the humble position of a servant.” Philippians 2:6-7
How faithful are you with what is not yours?
“And if you are not faithful with other people’s things, why should you be trusted with things of your own?” Luke 16:12
God is the master builder. He assigns the workers. We all have a part. Only our part may not be what we hoped for. There is a season for everything. Your season will come. But while you are serving another and waiting on your own, God will watch how faithful you are with what you have been given. He is watching how you handle what belongs to someone else.
We become great in God’s eyes by helping others become greater than ourselves.
When their success is not yours.
Are you okay with a quiet success? Can your heart handle someone else’s success without envy and jealousy entering in? Can you truly rejoice at their success when you and God are the only ones who really know how much you gave to help make it happen?
There’s a temptation for us to want to receive credit when we’ve given so much time and energy, heart and soul, tears and labor to the work. Sometimes we believe someone else’s gain is our loss.
“In God’s economy, someone else’s gain is our gain, and someone else’s loss is our loss. The best way to greatness in an economy like that is to pursue greatness—for someone else.” -Chip Ingram
Your time will come.
I sat in front of an elderly preacher while he shared about how old he was when he began ministry. He was a business man, waiting, before he became an evangelist traveling the world. He told the Lord, “Let it take as long as you need to work all the pride out of me before you release me. I want to steward Your glory well.”
It became my prayer too. Take as long as You need, Lord, as long as I need. Don’t let me go before it’s time. No matter how much I plead for You to let me. Work out of me all self.
When Joseph left the prison, his next step was the Pharaoh’s palace. (Genesis 41) I can almost guarantee he did not have the palace on his mind. When he was released, most likely he didn’t come out aspiring to be great, or possess any selfish ambition for the purpose of self-glorification.
It was time to save a nation.
There comes a time where God will provide people to help you build your own dream. But when it does your motives will be pure, and you will know authentically and deeply within, it is really not your own, but God’s and for His kingdom, anyway.
True greatness.
God doesn’t chastise us for the desire to be great. Greatness lives inside of us. He focuses not on our goal, but our means to achieve it.
Women around us may look at our status, our following, our accomplishments, our friends to be considered great in their eyes. But in God’s eyes, serving others for His glory is true greatness.
“Getting the most out of life isn’t about how much you keep for yourself but pour into others.” -David A. Stoddard
We build ourselves by lifting others up. Let’s keep building together.
with love,
Amy Tilson says
April 23, 2015 at 4:35 pmWell said, Michele-Lyn. We’re given 40 ways to grow your blog and get more followers yesterday, but it’s in the waiting and encouraging others that most of our own personal growth happens. Love your gentle spirit that is always cheering for others.
Michele-Lyn Ault says
April 29, 2015 at 12:55 pmAmy, yes and yes. God’s ways and thoughts are so much higher than our own. Thank you for your sweet comment and encouragement. You are darling. <3
Denise J. Hughes says
April 28, 2015 at 11:31 pmMichele-Lyn, this here, yes, this right here, is exactly what I love most about you…I love your heart. You are a genuine sister, whom I deeply cherish, and I am so grateful for all your encouraging words. We are building the Kingdom when we are FOR each other. And with all my heart, I am most definitely FOR you, my friend.
Michele-Lyn Ault says
April 29, 2015 at 12:52 pmDenise,
I appreciate you so much. I left you a comment on the FB image you posted earlier. Thank you for that. I encouraged my heart this morning and today. <3 I love you.
Kris Camealy says
April 29, 2015 at 8:01 amBeautiful truth here, friend.
Michele-Lyn Ault says
April 29, 2015 at 12:53 pmKris, it’s a lifelong learning. <3 🙂
Deb Anderson Weaver says
April 29, 2015 at 10:27 amThank you for this beautiful reminder of our purpose. We’re here to follow Jesus, lifting and serving others as we walk along. We stop when He stops, we meander when He does, we move forward when He compels us. An ear to the Spirit, our eyes on our Savior, we move in grace, humility, and gratitude. Thank you.
Michele-Lyn Ault says
April 29, 2015 at 12:53 pmDeb, amen and amen! It is a life of obedience and surrender to His will and His way, and His way is so much higher that ours. <3
Amy says
April 29, 2015 at 11:22 amOh how I love your words here today. I am learning what a blessing it is to encourage others in their dreams. Once we realize that all of us are called to know Him and make Him known then we can see building up others is drawing us deeper into our own calling. Thank you for your sweet uplifting spirit.
Michele-Lyn Ault says
April 29, 2015 at 12:54 pmAmy, thank you. <3 It truly is a blessed to be able to help someone else see their dreams come to pass. We are truly all in this together. Building others up makes us more like Jesus, doesn't it? 🙂
Nicole 'Moulzolf' Schroeder says
May 2, 2015 at 3:12 amI stumbled upon this blog to fulfill an assignment but it’s like this post was written directly to me. My husband has a successful business and at times I become jealous of what he has. I recently went back to work after being a SAHM and it has caused a lot of stress on our family. It’s not my time. God is calling me to lift others up right now. Thank you for writing this, this post was a blessing to me.
Meredith Bernard says
May 2, 2015 at 3:23 pm“We become great in God’s eyes by helping others become greater than ourselves.” No truer words and no truer evidence of this in a life than your own, Michele-Lyn. God is using your life and His vision through you to build His kingdom by building up His daughters. Your belief in me mirrors God’s belief in me and shines a Light on how I hope to be used by Him, as well. Thank you for being the most beautiful example of selfless service and obedience to His call on a life. I am beyond grateful and humbled to be on this journey together. <3
Lisa says
May 4, 2015 at 6:20 pm…new to your blog.
This is clearly a message from God, as I find it repeated to me as I travel different avenues these past few days.
So here, I stand, applauding you for your precious word.
Thank you for the lovely and gracious way you lift others and encourage.
Thank you for honoring God.
I have decided that I am to grow in my grace to others… overflowing to them, or I will remain on my lonely lane, where few wanderers walk.
I will take walks.
I will wander.
I will wonder and marvel at their words… and learn.
And I will encourage.
You have blessed me.
Miranda Lister says
June 1, 2017 at 8:19 pmThis was a very beautiful post. As I am in my own season, this came me very powerful and encouraging. Thank you so much for sharing your heart! I do have one question and it may be too long ago to remember, but did you happen to be reading or listening to a certain Chip Ingram book or sermon?