In a word, the answer is "much."  This last week our church had a funeral service for one of its beloved senior deacons, Mr. Norris L. Stampley.  By the world's measurements, Mr. Stampley was a great man.  He retired from Mississippi Power and Light as an executive vice president.  He had been the project engineer who built Grand Gulf Nuclear Power Plant.  He served on numerous boards and foundations in Jackson and throughout Mississippi.  He served on the Southern Baptist Brotherhood Commission and on the Mississippi Baptist Foundation Commission.  If you are looking for those kinds of highlights, then they are there.

He was great by another measurement, also.  That is the measurement of Jesus Himself.  Once Jesus came upon His disciples while they were arguing about which of them was the greatest.  Jesus told them essentially that the argument was inappropriate for the kingdom of God.  He told His disciples that "if you want to be great, then be the servant of all.  For the first shall be last and the last shall be first."  That is the way of it in the Kingdom of God.  Mr. Stampley was an humble servant of the Lord.  I could give you many examples from his personal life, family life, and from the life here at the church of his humility.  To brag on these, however, would be to violate the very spirit of what I am trying to say. 

Mr. Stampley's life was worth much to many in many ways.  It was never more meaningful than in humble service to the Lord, to his family, and to his community.  Sometimes we ask ourselves, "What can I do?"  Or "What difference would my vote or my input make?"  The answer is "very much."  If everyone who asked those questions would give what they have and serve others humbly, our community, our state, our nation, and our world would be a much better place.  So why not?  Make that a part of your new year's resolution.  Resolve to use your influence to make a difference at home, in the neighborhood, in the community, in the church, and anywhere else this year.