24. How does the apostle thus help us to keep the right viewpoint in estimating the genuineness of our own service?

²⁴ Here, indeed, was real evidence of being a genuine servant! No boasting of impressive accomplishments in which to take human pride, such as the construction of mighty edifices; no recitation of drawing great crowds to hear him speak; no taking of personal credit for the marvelous expansion that had been accomplished in the spread of the good news. Rather, a record of humble service, like a servant who, without any fanfare, goes out even in dark of night, braving storm, discomfort and danger, to accomplish some errand on which his master sends him. We can think of this when estimating the genuineness of our own service to God. However, we can also remind ourselves that Paul also called attention to his letters of recommendation, namely, the Christian disciples whom he had made as proof of his servanthood.​—2 Cor. 3:1-3.

25. How did Paul express his humility in writing to those in Corinth, where he had labored so diligently?

²⁵ Paul was never guilty of elevating himself or wanting others to look on him with deference as a ‘chief one’ among them. To those Corinthians, among whom he had labored for a year and a half, he said of himself and a fellow worker: “What is Apollos? Or what is Paul? Just servants [di·aʹko·nos, ministers, NW] through whom you came to have faith, as the Lord gave each of us opportunity. I did the planting, Apollos the watering, but it was God who made the plants grow. So neither the planter nor the waterer counts for anything, but only God who makes the plants grow. . . . We are fellow-laborers for God, and you are God’s farm, God’s building.”​—1 Cor. 3:5-9, AT.

26. How can we seek to be great and still be free from selfish ambition and pride?

²⁶ Certainly, seeking to be great in this way, not by gaining prominence, prestige or power, but by giving of oneself in humble service, is a desirable goal. It is an evidence, not of ambition or pride or selfishness, but of love, love for God and love for neighbor. May all of us today seek such greatness, to the praise of Jehovah God, who established this rule of greatness, and in honor of his Son, who exemplified it as no one else ever has done. Our seeking Christian “greatness” will bring grand benefits to ourselves and to others. It will bring a rich outpouring of God’s holy spirit, which will, in turn, contribute to splendid unity and harmony among us, as the following article explains.

Serving Unitedly as an Association of Brothers

“You are all brothers . . . do not be called leaders, for One is your Leader, that is, Christ.”​—Matt. 23:8-11, New American Standard Bible.

1, 2. (a) What illustrates the difficulty most find in living a life of humble service like that of God’s Son? (b) Did Jesus’ apostles make this adjustment without difficulty?

THE concept of a life of humble service is not an easy one for most imperfect humans to accept and apply. Witness what has taken place in Christendom, where men claiming to be representatives of Christ Jesus and ordained servants (or