Everybody Wants to Be Great Until They Get the Invoice.

It’s paid in humility, service, and obedience.

It’s funny how the world talks about greatness. The phrase I heard the other day stopped me in my tracks: “Everybody wants to be great until they get the invoice.” That’s the truth. We chase after success, recognition, and status like they’re the ultimate prize. But when it comes time to pay the real price—sacrifice, humility, and surrender—most people walk away.

The world sells greatness as being known, elevated, or applauded. But Jesus flipped the script: “Whoever wants to be great must be the servant of all” (Mark 10:43–44). That’s the invoice. Greatness in the Kingdom isn’t paid in likes, dollars, or applause. It’s paid in humility, service, and obedience.

Here’s the problem: we’ve confused motivation with surrender.

• Motivation says, “I can, I will, I must.”

• Surrender says, “Not my will but Yours be done.”

Motivation feeds self. Surrender feeds the Spirit.

And if we’re honest, we like motivation better. It sounds inspiring. It makes us feel in control. But it’s also empty. Motivation burns out, compares, and competes. Surrender, on the other hand, produces rest, peace, and lasting fruit.

Even the language of surrender has been hijacked. In politics and culture, “surrender” is painted as weakness—conforming to a party, agenda, or cause. But that’s a counterfeit. In the Kingdom, surrender isn’t bondage; it’s freedom. It’s not bowing to a system; it’s aligning with the King.

Humility is the way. Not because it makes you small, but because it puts God where He belongs—at the center. Jesus modeled this: “He made Himself nothing, humbled Himself, and became obedient to death” (Philippians 2:7–8). If the Son of God chose humility as His path, then why would we think there’s another way?

The world wants to be known for something. Kingdom people want Jesus to be known through them. That’s the difference.

So yes—everybody wants to be great. But when the invoice shows up, only those willing to surrender will pay it. Because in the Kingdom, the price of greatness isn’t fame. It’s humility.