NO BIBLE NO BREAKFAST DAILY BIBLE REFLECTIONS AND MORE

A SERVANT LEADER (LUKE 22:24-30)

REFLECTIONS

A servant leader is the theme for our reflection. Servant leadership is a model of leadership built on the belief that the most effective leaders strive to serve others, rather than accrue power or take control. The normal and reasonable expectation or reality is that a leader is served by his subordinates or servants. Indeed, one of the mundane reasons why many people yearn to become leaders or have a strong desire to occupy positions of power through any means possible is for them to have others at their beck and call.

Jesus’ teaching during His last supper with His disciples, challenged their understanding of greatness and leadership. Jesus taught them that although He called them to share in His glory and greatness, they were to be ready to serve others. In other words, Jesus called them to become servant leaders, not domineering and self-seeking leaders. He greatly admonished them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. For who is the greater, one who reclines at the table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves.” (Luke 22:25-27). Jesus instructs us to follow His perfect example of servant leadership if we are to succeed in executing our calling or mandate as His disciples. Paul testified to Jesus’ servant leadership when he wrote to the Philippians. “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:3-8). Dear friend in the Lord, what is your motivation to become a leader in your church and society? Is it to gain public recognition and to enhance your social status or to offer yourself as a living sacrifice to the Lord by serving and seeking the welfare of others? Christian leadership is about simplicity, humility and service. It is a radical paradigm shift from the worldly understanding of leadership. In the world and in many organisations, leaders put themselves first but in Christianity, leaders put the needs of the congregants first. Again, In state governance, most political leaders will not sacrifice their entitlements, part of their emoluments and comfort for the mutual benefit of the suffering masses, yet in Christian leadership, a true servant leader must be willing to experience the same fate with members of his or her congregation by sacrificing his or her comfort if the need arises. It is called incarnational leadership. Incarnational Leadership is demonstrated by following Jesus way of selfless leadership.

Beloved in the Lord, It saddens my heart when I see Church leaders living luxurious and extravagant lifestyles yet most of their members live in abject poverty. Christian leadership in some African Churches and communities is about the prosperity of the leaders and the display of his or her wealth. Some Christian leaders are now yearning for celebrity status instead of focusing on the wholistic and existential needs of their members as servant leaders. Some misinterpret the Bible to abuse and impoverish their members to enrich themselves. Christian ministry is not solely about the welfare of the founder and leaders of the church. Beloved in the Lord, it is important to note that Christ is the founder of the church and we are workers in His church, therefore pastors and other leaders have only been called to serve by grace. Whether you are a pastor, catechist, presbyter, elder or you occupy a position of leadership in your congregation, always remember that you are a servant leader who is ultimately accountable to Jesus the founder and sustainer of the Church.

Beloved in the Lord, two of the fundamental hallmarks of Christianity are humility and service. Jesus our Lord and Saviour is the personification of humility and service. We are greatly reminded that no matter how great we are positioned in life let us humble ourselves for we have been called to serve and follow the examples of our Master Jesus. We must be humble and serve one another everywhere we find ourselves. Our political positions, wealth and status in life should never make us look down on others but rather enable us to live a life of humility and service, for this is the meaning of servant leadership. Shalom.

In summary, we have been admonished to be servant leaders like our Lord Jesus Christ and not like worldly leaders who lord it over their subordinates or subjects. It is the will of God for us to reflect the perfect image of Christ even in leadership. Shalom.

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, grant us your spirit and character of humility and service so that the world may know that we are your true disciples. Amen.