Greatness in the Bible is often portrayed not as something achieved by self-promotion or earthly power, but through humility, service, and obedience to God. The following Bible verses provide insight into the biblical perspective on true greatness.
Also Read: Bible Verses About The Greatness of God
Greatness Through Humility
Humility is a key to greatness in God’s kingdom. Rather than seeking to elevate ourselves, the Bible teaches that greatness is found in lowering ourselves and serving others with a humble heart.
Matthew 23:11-12
“The greatest among you must be a servant. But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
James 4:10
“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.”
Philippians 2:3
“Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.”
1 Peter 5:6
“So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.”
Proverbs 18:12
“Haughtiness goes before destruction; humility precedes honor.”
Greatness in Serving Others
In God’s kingdom, true greatness comes from serving others. Jesus, the ultimate example of a servant-leader, showed us that to be great, we must put others’ needs before our own.
Matthew 20:26-28
“But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Mark 9:35
“He sat down, called the twelve disciples over to him, and said, ‘Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else.'”
Luke 22:26
“But among you, those who are the greatest should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant.”
Galatians 5:13
“For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.”
John 13:14-15
“And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.”
Greatness Through Obedience to God
True greatness is found in faithfully obeying God’s commands. The Bible shows us that obedience is a mark of a great person in God’s sight, even if the world may not understand or value it.
Deuteronomy 11:1
“You must love the Lord your God and always obey his requirements, decrees, regulations, and commands.”
John 14:23
“Jesus replied, ‘All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them.'”
1 Samuel 15:22
“But Samuel replied, ‘What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.'”
Luke 11:28
“Jesus replied, ‘But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.'”
1 John 2:3
“And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments.”
Greatness in God’s Eyes
The world may define greatness in terms of power, wealth, and fame, but God’s view of greatness is vastly different. In His eyes, greatness is measured by faithfulness, love, and righteousness.
1 Corinthians 1:27
“Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful.”
Matthew 5:19
“So if you ignore the least commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God’s laws and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.”
Luke 9:48
“Then he said to them, ‘Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me also welcomes my Father who sent me. Whoever is the least among you is the greatest.'”
Matthew 18:4
“So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.”
Psalm 147:10-11
“He takes no pleasure in the strength of a horse or in human might. No, the Lord’s delight is in those who fear him, those who put their hope in his unfailing love.”
Greatness Through Faith
Faith is essential to achieving greatness in God’s kingdom. The Bible emphasizes that faith in God’s promises and trust in His power are central to a life of spiritual greatness.
Hebrews 11:1
“Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.”
Mark 11:22-23
“Then Jesus said to the disciples, ‘Have faith in God. I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart.'”
James 2:17
“So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.”
Matthew 17:20
“You don’t have enough faith,’ Jesus told them. ‘I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.'”
Romans 10:17
“So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.”
Greatness in Love
Love is a hallmark of greatness in the Bible. God’s love for us is the model of how we are to love others. Those who love others with the same unconditional love reflect true greatness.
1 Corinthians 13:13
“Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.”
1 John 4:7-8
“Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”
John 15:12-13
“This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
Galatians 5:14
“For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'”
Romans 13:8
“Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law.”
Greatness Through Perseverance
In the Bible, those who persevere through trials and hardships, holding on to their faith in God, are considered great. Perseverance is a key virtue that leads to spiritual maturity and ultimately greatness in God’s kingdom.
James 1:12
“God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.”
Romans 5:3-4
“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.”
2 Corinthians 4:17
“For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!”
Hebrews 12:1
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.”
Galatians 6:9
“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.”
Greatness Through Wisdom
Wisdom is highly valued in the Bible, and those who seek it are considered great in God’s eyes. Wisdom guides us in making decisions that honor God and lead us to righteousness and greatness.
Proverbs 4:7
“Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do! And whatever else you do, develop good judgment.”
James 1:5
“If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.”
Proverbs 9:10
“Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.”
Colossians 2:3
“In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
Ecclesiastes 7:12
“Wisdom and money can get you almost anything, but only wisdom can save your life.”
Also Read: Bible Verses About Success and Hard Work
What Does the Bible Say About Greatness
The Bible teaches us that greatness is not about fame, power, or wealth. True greatness, according to God, is about humility, love, and service. When we look at what Jesus said, we find that His idea of greatness is very different from what the world thinks. In the world, people often think that being great means having lots of money, being famous, or having power over others. But Jesus turned this way of thinking upside down.
One time, the disciples were arguing about who among them was the greatest. They wanted to know who was the most important, but Jesus did not give them the answer they were expecting. Instead, He told them that if they wanted to be great, they had to be the least. He said that anyone who wants to be first must be the servant of all. This is a big shift from what people usually think. For Jesus, greatness is not about how many people serve you, but how many people you serve. Being a servant is not something to be ashamed of. In fact, it is a sign of true greatness.
Jesus Himself showed what this looks like. He was the Son of God, yet He washed the feet of His disciples. This was a job that was usually done by the lowest servant in the house. But Jesus, who had all the power and authority, humbled Himself and did this to show what true greatness is. If we want to be great, we have to be willing to serve others, even if it means doing things that nobody else wants to do.
Another thing the Bible says about greatness is that it is connected to humility. God blesses those who are humble, and He promises to lift them up. This does not mean that God wants us to think less of ourselves, but rather to think of ourselves less. When we are humble, we are willing to put others first and think of their needs before our own. That is why the Bible says that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. When we try to push ourselves up, we miss the chance to be truly great, because greatness is not about lifting ourselves up but about letting God lift us up.
True greatness also comes from love. Jesus said the greatest commandment is to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and to love your neighbor as yourself. If we do this, we are on the path to true greatness because we are following the example of Jesus. He showed the greatest love by giving His life for us. There is no greater love than this, and when we love others in the same way, we are living a life of true greatness.
In the end, greatness in God’s eyes is not about how much we achieve, how much we own, or how important people think we are. It is about how much we love, how well we serve, and how humble we are.