How To Be Greater Than Your Master

“For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, and that you may marvel”- John 5:20 (NKJV).

Robert Greene in his The 48 Laws of Power advised his readers to never outshine their masters. He explained, “Always make those above you feel comfortably superior. In your desire to please or impress them, do not go too far in displaying your talents or you might accomplish the opposite-inspire fear and insecurity. Make your masters appear more brilliant than they are and you will attain the heights of power.” Unfortunately, however, this advice is a bit, if not totally, misleading. In the first place, Robert failed to tell us the kind of masters he is talking about; only insecure masters will fit his context. Secondly, his advice is ungodly in that it makes its adherents hypocrites; they will at best always flatter their masters. Thus the adherents of this advice are usually sycophants. Worst still, the advice is too worldly and destructive. Avoid it!

Real masters are always secure in their identity and position. They thus know and understand who they are and the unique gifts God has endowed them with. John the Baptist was for instance the greatest among all persons born of women. He was a secure master in that he knew his identity and life purpose. He once declared, “I am ‘[t]he voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Make straight the way of the LORD”’. He was thus not uncomfortable to declare Jesus Christ, whom he baptized, is greater than him. The significant lesson in John’s attitude is that making your master to ‘feel comfortably superior’ is not the issue; it is more about acknowledging one’s unique assignment and that of others. The key to your greatness is discovering and fulfillment of your life assignment to the satisfaction of God, nothing more; nothing less!

In addition, secure masters empower their disciples to aspire greater heights than they attained. “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to my Father” – John 14:12. Jesus is the Master of masters and the greatest person in the history of mankind. Yet he acknowledged the fact that his real disciples although cannot be greater than his personality, they can be greater than him in works. Your unique life-assignment defines and determines the limits your great works. Jesus, being a secure master, knew the truth that time and chance happens to all persons. Therefore, while you cannot be greater than the personality of your masters; you can be greater than them in works. King David, the greatest king in history, once stated, “I have more understanding than my teachers…I understand more than the ancients, because I keep your precepts.”

It is always good to be guided by the exemplary deeds of your master or teacher. However, they should only inspire you to do great works. Your greatness is enveloped in humility. Humble people know that without Jesus they can do nothing and that they cannot be greater than God, not even in works. It is enough to be like God in character and in works but you must always depend, obey, submit to and surrender to Him in all things. People who do these things will naturally outshine their worldly masters and teachers. The key is keeping the precepts of God.