ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

 SAPATE ME 10, 2026

2 KALONIKALI 9-12; MATIU 20:20-28

God makes people great - not for their glory, but for his.

‘Oku ngaohi ‘e he ‘Otua ha kakai ke nau tu’ukimu’a - ‘o ‘ikai ke nau langilangi’ia ai, ka, ki he langilangi pe ‘O’ona.

I watched as a gifted pastor not only lost the plot but lost himself. He had been blessed with a quick mind and awesome communication skills. He was a natural leader. He began his ministry knowing that his gifts were for a much higher purpose than his own success and glory. He had lived with a deep sense of gospel calling and dedicated his abilities to discipling people in the life-transforming truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ. But he became lost in the middle of his own story. What had been all about his Lord, was now about him. He was successful and powerful, and he knew it. Pride closed his heart to the counsel of others that he so desperately needed. He loved hanging with "people that matter." He loved telling the story of the rise of his ministry, and he loved giving people tours of his ministry kingdom. This once tenderhearted man became angry and controlling. Where once he led by encouragement and vision, he now led by intimidation and threat. His was a story of spiritual decline, and soon everything he had built crumbled.

When I witness the spiritual decline of pastors, I ask myself, "Why does God choose to make certain people great? Why does he bless them with great gifts? Why does he provide them with great resources? Why does he surround them with smart and dedicated people?" The answer in Scripture again and again is that human greatness is not an end in itself but a means to an end. God does not pour his greatness into people so they can bask in their own glory and be worshiped by others because of it. He knows the dangers of greatness. He is aware of how quickly pride in oneself replaces humble gratitude. He knows that success is far more spiritually dangerous than failure. So why does God make people great?

The answer to this question is found in the words of the Queen of Sheba as she reflects on the greatness of King Solomon: "Blessed be the LORD your God, who has delighted in you and set you on his throne as king for the LORD your God! Because your God loved Israel and would establish them forever, he has made you king over them, that you may execute justice and righteousness" (2 Chron. 9:8). The queen gets it right. Solomon's greatness is not about Solomon; it's about God's love for and faithfulness to his people. Human greatness is not a possession. It is an instrument given by a God of grace and glory for the sake of his people and the proclamation of his own glory.

May we willingly and joyfully surrender every gift and ability we've been given to him, for his purposes and for his glory.