“Not So With You”

2 Samuel 7; 1 Chronicles 17; Psalms. 2; Matthew 20 

“…’You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave – just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’”

Matthew 20:25-28

Humility and servanthood are the marks of leadership that looks like Jesus. In Jesus’ time, the Romans took every opportunity to remind the Jews that they were in charge. Their soldiers enforced taxation for local infrastructure and public projects by the use of force. Slaves had no rights in this society. They could be purchased and then discarded. To use slaves as the example of servanthood, which all those who aspire to leadership must embody, was and is a shocking parallel.

 If this is the standard in Christ’s kingdom, who would aspire to be a leader?

Jesus uses the example of slavery to describe his ministry of giving his time, his influence, and even his life to ransom many. We need more that the gift of leadership; we need the heart of leadership, servant- leadership in the way of Jesus.

Who wants to be a leader?

“Lord Jesus, I repent for thinking more of myself than of others, and even of you. Teach me servant-leadership, for your glory.