This morning I turned on my computer listeningto the U.S. President Barack Obama’s inaugural speech on CNN.com. What struck me most in his speech was about the word “greatness” he marked, which “is never a given, but must be earned.” He said to his Americans to “set aside childish things”, to have hope and to be willing to sacrifice in face of  “gathering clouds and raging storms of war and economic woe.”

What is a person of being great or greatness? In Mark 10:34-35, Jesus said to his disciples as they were arguing over who among them was the greatest, “So you want first place? Then take the last place. Be the servant of all: (v 35). He taught them not to throw their weight around as they assumed power and let that little power go to their heads.

Yes, greatness must be earned and it should be earned by “a good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:23).