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Servant-hearted (2)
'Whoever wants to be a leader ... must be your servant' Matthew 20:26
The problem is, the word 'servant' conjures up images of downtrodden, poorly-paid domestic help, who scrub the gussets of lords and ladies for tuppence an hour. Or our older brother forcing us to make him a brew, as we mutter under our breath, 'why should I? I'm not your servant!' 'Servant' implies giving out for little thanks. 'Servant' implies hard work. Is Jesus therefore saying we need to become like badly-tipped waitresses if we want to lead? Maybe our internal dictionaries need to get a new definition of 'servant'.
Jesus, the son of God, called Himself a servant: 'For even the son of man did not come to be served but to serve' (Mark 10:45 NLT). One of the best examples of being a leader who serves is found at the last supper. Jesus knows this is His last meal before being murdered so it would be pretty understandable for Him to be wrapped up in His own problems.
Yet Jesus isn't distracted by Himself, even under the most intense pressure imaginable. His attention stays focused on His team. His last evening is spent building others up with prayer and quality time. And when it comes to washing the roadside camel-dung off everyone's feet, it's not the hired help with towel and soapy water at hand; it's Jesus. JC leadership means the last shall be first and the first shall be last.
written by Bob Gass
'Whoever wants to be a leader ... must be your servant' Matthew 20:26
The problem is, the word 'servant' conjures up images of downtrodden, poorly-paid domestic help, who scrub the gussets of lords and ladies for tuppence an hour. Or our older brother forcing us to make him a brew, as we mutter under our breath, 'why should I? I'm not your servant!' 'Servant' implies giving out for little thanks. 'Servant' implies hard work. Is Jesus therefore saying we need to become like badly-tipped waitresses if we want to lead? Maybe our internal dictionaries need to get a new definition of 'servant'.
Jesus, the son of God, called Himself a servant: 'For even the son of man did not come to be served but to serve' (Mark 10:45 NLT). One of the best examples of being a leader who serves is found at the last supper. Jesus knows this is His last meal before being murdered so it would be pretty understandable for Him to be wrapped up in His own problems.
Yet Jesus isn't distracted by Himself, even under the most intense pressure imaginable. His attention stays focused on His team. His last evening is spent building others up with prayer and quality time. And when it comes to washing the roadside camel-dung off everyone's feet, it's not the hired help with towel and soapy water at hand; it's Jesus. JC leadership means the last shall be first and the first shall be last.
written by Bob Gass
