Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave. Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
– Matthew 20:26–28 (NIV)
“Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
The Kingdom of God is not merely a destination we hope to reach after this life. It is also a reality we are called to live out here and now. When we confess Jesus Christ as Lord, we are not simply declaring our hope of heaven; we are acknowledging His authority over our choices, relationships, ambitions, work and use of the resources He has entrusted to us.
This truth challenges the way many people understand greatness. In a world where status is measured by titles, possessions, connections and the number of people at one’s beck and call, the Kingdom of God presents a different standard. Greatness is not determined by how many people serve us, but by our willingness to serve others in obedience to God.
Jesus made this distinction unmistakably clear. Although He was Lord and Master, He did not come demanding the privileges of His position. He came to serve. His life demonstrates that service is not a sign of weakness or inferiority; it is an expression of love, spiritual maturity and submission to the will of God.
For Christians living in Lagos, where ambition, competition and the pressure to succeed can be overwhelming, this understanding of Kingdom living is particularly important. How we conduct our businesses, treat our domestic staff, relate to colleagues, exercise authority and respond to the needs of our neighbours reveals whether our faith is merely a confession or a way of life.
The Kingdom begins with surrender
To live in God’s Kingdom is to recognise that God, rather than personal ambition, must occupy the highest place in our lives. We cannot sincerely claim His lordship while reserving certain areas of our conduct for our own convenience.
Jesus taught His disciples to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33). This instruction establishes the proper order of Christian living. God’s will must take precedence over the pursuit of wealth, recognition, influence and personal advancement.
This does not mean that Christians should abandon ambition, professional excellence or the desire to improve their circumstances. Rather, it means that these pursuits must be governed by Kingdom values. Success achieved through dishonesty, exploitation or the deliberate injury of others cannot be reconciled with a life submitted to Christ.
A trader who refuses to cheat a customer, a public officer who resists bribery, an employer who pays workers fairly and a professional who performs an assignment diligently are all demonstrating what it means to bring everyday life under the authority of God.
Kingdom living begins when we stop asking only what we can gain from a situation and begin asking what faithfulness to God requires of us.
Service is the language of Kingdom greatness
In Matthew 20, Jesus corrected the disciples’ understanding of greatness by directing their attention to service. His teaching overturned the familiar idea that authority exists primarily to secure personal comfort and privilege.
In the Kingdom of God, leadership carries responsibility. The greater the authority entrusted to us, the greater our obligation to use it for the good of others.
This principle applies at every level of society. A pastor is called to shepherd people faithfully. A political leader is expected to serve the public interest. A parent must nurture and guide the family. A business owner should create value without treating workers merely as instruments of profit. Even within the church, a position of responsibility is an opportunity for service, not a licence to dominate.
We must therefore examine our motives whenever we seek recognition or authority. Are we willing to undertake the unseen work that benefits others? Can we serve faithfully when nobody applauds us? Will we do what is right even when there is no immediate reward?
Service is often most clearly demonstrated in small, uncelebrated acts of kindness. Visiting someone who is lonely, encouraging a struggling believer, helping a neighbour in difficulty or performing an ordinary assignment with care may attract little public attention. Yet such acts can become meaningful expressions of the love of Christ.
The Kingdom is not advanced only through spectacular achievements. It is also made visible through quiet, consistent faithfulness.
Stewardship requires accountability
Everything we possess or exercise responsibility over comes with an obligation to use it wisely. Our time, abilities, money, relationships, opportunities and positions are not merely personal possessions; they are resources for which we must give account to God.
In the parable of the talents, the master commended the servant who had been faithful with what was entrusted to him, declaring, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” (Matthew 25:21).
The lesson is not that everyone must produce identical results. God has not given everyone the same opportunities, abilities or responsibilities. The important question is whether we have faithfully used what has been placed in our hands.
A person may never occupy a prominent public position and yet make an enormous contribution through honest work, generosity, responsible parenting and faithful service within the community. Conversely, someone with considerable influence may squander that opportunity through selfishness, indifference or the abuse of power.
Kingdom stewardship calls us to diligence rather than complacency, accountability rather than excuses, and generosity rather than selfish accumulation.
It also reminds us that our responsibilities extend beyond the walls of the church. The integrity we display during worship must accompany us into the marketplace, the office, the classroom, the home and every other place where our lives touch those of other people.
Faith must produce visible fruit
Christianity cannot be reduced to religious language, church attendance or familiarity with Scripture. These have their proper place, but genuine faith must influence our conduct.
James 2:17 teaches that faith without works is dead. This does not mean that we earn salvation through good deeds. Rather, good works are evidence of a faith that is alive and active.
If we claim to love God, that love should shape our relationships. If we proclaim His justice, we should be concerned about fairness. If we celebrate His mercy, we should learn to forgive. If we pray for the prosperity of our nation, we should also reject the corruption and selfishness that undermine the common good.
Our society needs Christians whose convictions remain firm when compromise appears profitable. Lagos needs business owners who honour their agreements, leaders who remember the people they represent, professionals who uphold ethical standards and neighbours who care enough to act when others are in distress.
We cannot transform every circumstance at once, but we can begin with the responsibilities immediately before us. A faithful Christian life can influence a household, a workplace, a congregation and, eventually, a wider community.
The question is not simply whether people know that we are Christians. It is whether our conduct gives them a reason to recognise the values of the Kingdom we profess.
Living for the King’s approval
Kingdom living requires a change in our understanding of reward. Human beings naturally appreciate recognition, appreciation and advancement. There is nothing inherently wrong with receiving these things. The danger arises when the desire for applause becomes more important than obedience to God.
Some of the most valuable service we render may never be acknowledged publicly. We may give without receiving thanks, work diligently without immediate promotion or make sacrifices whose benefits become visible only much later.
Yet our calling is to remain faithful.
The Christian who serves from a sincere heart understands that God’s approval matters more than public acclaim. Such a person does not need to occupy the centre of attention to remain committed to the work. Nor does the absence of recognition become an excuse for withdrawing from responsibility.
Be assured of this: the measure of a life is not merely what it accumulates, but also what it contributes. Our opportunities differ, but each of us can honour God through the faithful use of what has been entrusted to us.
Kingdom living begins with surrender, finds expression in service and becomes visible through stewardship, integrity and love. It is a daily commitment to allow the values of Christ to shape our decisions and relationships.
As we continue our walk with God, may we learn to seek His Kingdom above personal ambition, serve others without pride and remain faithful in both great responsibilities and seemingly insignificant tasks. For when the King examines our lives, may He find people who have not merely spoken about His Kingdom, but have lived its values.
Closing reflection
What has God placed in your hands, and how faithfully are you using it? Are your ambitions governed by His righteousness? Does your treatment of others reflect the servant-hearted example of Jesus Christ?
The invitation of the Kingdom is not simply to admire Christ’s example, but to follow it. Wherever God has placed us, we have an opportunity to serve, to act justly, to show compassion and to make His goodness visible.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, teach me to live under Your authority and to seek Your Kingdom above my personal ambitions. Give me a servant’s heart, integrity in my dealings and wisdom to use faithfully everything You have entrusted to me. Help me to serve without pride, give without selfishness and remain faithful even when my efforts go unnoticed. May my life reflect the character of Jesus Christ and bring blessing to the people around me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
- Faith for the City is a weekly exploration of Rev. Dr Kayode Ilupeju’s 12-volume Sermon Notes Series. Week 30 draws on Volume 6, Kingdom Living and Service. Contact us for copies or order directly from Amazon.
