Status Seekers or Servant Leaders?
This post was written by Mel Lawrenz
Day 6 of Knowing Him: An Easter Devotional (view all days)
He took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him. “We are going up to Jerusalem,”he said, “and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.” Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.”
“What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”
When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as 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 slave of all.” (Mark 10:32-44)
In what was the worst moment for brothers James and John, they chose the occasion of Jesus’ ominous prediction of his suffering to see if there was something in it for them. “Do whatever we ask,” they said (a remarkable request!). Can we have elite spots beside you?
Some questions are innocent and open-minded; others reveal that we are completely confused. “You don’t know that you’re asking,” Jesus said, by which he meant: Are you really that anxious to be by my side when I am slaughtered? Would you like your own crosses? Do you really want to follow this world in seeking status and power?
No, Jesus told them, if you want to be great–really great–then you must become slave and servants of all.
And then Jesus made this most amazing statement: “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” He was the fulfillment of the “suffering servant” the prophet Isaiah had spoken of seven centuries earlier. And he was the “ransom,” the one who would liberate us from the taskmasters of sin, death, and the Evil One.
Ponder This: What are the biggest barriers we face in giving up status and security, and instead living lives of servanthood?
[This daily devotional will appear through Easter. You may receive via email.]
This entry was posted on Friday, March 23rd, 2012 at 2:00 am and is filed under Easter Devotional.
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When I read this I just weep again it reminds me of what I’ve for yrs been teachin and encouragin people with that we’re suppose to serve one another. Thats why Jesus said you’ll know me people not by what they say but by there fruits.
We’re suppose to lay our lifes down for one another be there in the good and bad times, thats what it speaks to me where it says Jesus came to serve us, HE LAY HIS LIFE DOWN FOR US. Thats Love, and I honestly think many Christians have’nt really grasped that statement yet the deapth of Jesus’s Love for us.
To have a servants heart is the Life I live by so that Jesus can get all the Glory and Honour. This is just a wee point I make. Its a sermon alone and goes much longer.
I honestly pray that we as Children of the Lord will live our fruits in Jesus out so that in the churches and outside will see without us openin our mouths how we TRUELY HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS, well actually the Deity.
Blessin’s
I think one of the barriers that is hard to overcome when giving up status and security is that you also give up the glory. As Christians we should want to give God the glory or do deeds that glorify him but sometimes pride gets in the way and says “Hey, look what I did. Where is my acknowledgement, my glory?”.
This is my ‘first reading’ of any material from Mr. Lawrenz. No wonder God has Richly Blessed his ministry. My prayers are for continued blesses to Mel – because he doesn’t ‘store them up’, he feeds millions through his books, etc. What a beautiful picture & emotion he writes. If you know of a “new Christian” (babe in Christ) or someone ‘wavering around church’, Please share some of Mr. Lawrenz’s writings. I’m confident anyone could be moved ‘closer to Christ’ as a result of reading his work. Thank you sir – you are a strong leader in God’s kingdom on earth.
I agree that two people want the best for themselves with no thought of others. We MUST think WHAT GOD wants us to do and what will help others before what will benefit ourselves. We MUST
be servants rather than Status Seekers. Donald L Thompson
CHARACHTERISTICS of a True leader are that of sincere servanthood. As a Christian leader I am very cautious of those who are very anxious/quick to take on roles. What I have found is that status seekers can never fully exercise the true power of God because there is lack of submission, sincerity, and faith. Only through our servanthood can we show forth the works God has called us to do for His Kingdom.
I am probably older than ones that read this. I believe age is a big obstacle so to say. I have had religion and faith and worship in my life from birth. I always turned to Him for most everything. He was always there for me. I did not want to not worship Him but I had other things on my agenda such as raising a family and having material things. I did not need expensive material things just things for the most comfort for myself and my family here on this earth. Now I know that He does supply what we need. That is all we need with Him to abide in and He in us. I pray I raised my family with these morals also so that someday they will see that He is all they need.
I believe James and John were just not thinking when they ask that of Jesus.
we have to deal with selfishness ,greed and have love for one another. if jesus was selfish and greedy , he would have not paid the price after all he didn’t have any sin to stop him from going to heaven. remember we ought not to think of our selves more highly than others. joyce uganda.
I am a servent leader.
Praising GOD for Jesus Christ!
‘He has broken down the middle wall of division between us.’
Ephesians 2
The greatest barrier we face is selfishness and self-aggrandizement. We have to recognize that we have to be humble and serve from the heart to be servant leaders. We should not do service because it brings recognition but because we really want to make a difference in society, the home or in our friends’ lives. I pray that God will give me the grace to fulfill these requirements to be a true servant leader and “Do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with my God” Micah6:8
Geo – what an excellent way of putting it! It is so easy for us to serve, but with mixed motives. And Micah 6:8 is an excellent reference point. I’ve used that as my life verse for years.
I treasure the Knowing Him gems. Please keep sending them to me. Thank you.
God’s blessings in this Holy season.
Judith M. Tunell
We will, Judith. Building up to Easter.
The biggest barrier one would face in giving up status and a sense of (false) security, in exchange for the life of a servant would be giving up the applause, or the approval of man. Everyone wants to feel big, or important in someone elses eyes. Money and prestige positions you for this false sense of security. That’s why Jesus commented that it would be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God. To enter Gods kingdom,we must become the least, small, insignificant….this is extremely hard for someone who thinks himself great, large, important…. in his own eyes.
Good point, Linda. I like how you put it: “Everyone wants to feel big.” The irony is that, when we become small in submission to Christ, he makes us whole, great, even “big” in a spiritual sense.
The biggest barrier and the bigest mistake: our pride. And that is the beginning of our fall. We’ve seen it so much even in our own lives. But when you’re willing to live a life of humility, willing to repent every day, to search your heart, and trust in God, knowing you are limited, only human, and He is the only one who really makes life worth it…then the change in your life is so amazing! There is no need for power, no need for recognition, something starts in your heart, a revolution, a need for worship, a need to serve others, to love Him and love others…
And when you start trusting in your own wisdom and strength, pride comes again and it makes you seek power etc. So let’s watch out!!! Be aware daily that it is IN HIM and THROUGH HIM and FOR HIM!!!
GOD BLESS ALL
this is wanted — 1.to be a servant / slave — always serve first
2.to be a saint — wish BLESSINGS / FORGIVENESS
3. to be like a scientist — wait for results
i’am convinced n PRAY i keep on it.
RICH BLESSINGS TO ALL
dr.preeti bhatia
I must diminish so that Jesus would increase through me. I must put aside, continually, my own selfish ambitions, desires, and wants. Moment by moment, I must grasp God by the hand, and depend on Him to guide me.
Fear and lack of trust. The fear comes from failing to trust in God’s promises for us.
It’s very inconvenient to move out of the way for God to lead. At least, it feels inconvenient, when it’s actually very simple — just surrender and give Him the honor due. But it’s easier said than done. This week I had numerous coworkers praise me for things I may have done well or better than they could do. I could have given God the credit for the ability, but I didn’t object to their words of praise. It’s as if I would be going out of my way to bring God into it. But I’m by no means “the best”, so I think silently objecting to this claim makes me just as guilty as reveling in my own glory.
I’m the kind of person who takes everyone seriously, and although I know I’m not the best, it’s just hard not to revel in the glory when someone tells me I am. My coworkers may be praising me because they admire the job I did, but I always feel like it’s foolish to praise people and say “You’re the best”, when it’s not true. So whenever I hear someone tell me that, I wonder what God thinks — does He want me to retort “No I’m not, God is”?? Or is it something that isn’t a matter of glory — it’s just a phrase being used to show appreciation? Even so, I am always lost for words because, what do you say to that?
“Why, yes, I am the best!”?
“When did that happen?”?
“How dare you say that! I am a human just like you!”?
What is the right retort?
Katie – interesting comments. There are so many thoughtless phrases we use. “How are you doing?” “Fine.” Etc. Meaningless.
I like to think of responses to keep in my back pocket to add just a bit of meaning.
Your example of “you’re the best” is a case in point. If the intent of the person making the comment is to express genuine appreciation (and they really aren’t putting you in the position of God), then maybe something like: “Well, thanks. I appreciate the encouragement.”
PRIDE
The biggest barrier is our pride in what we have accomplished and the material things in our lives when we should be praising God for what He has accomplished through us. We need to follow where God leads us instead. He is not impressed with what we have but who we are and how we follow his teachings and his guidance in spreading His word which will bring us to Glory.
We do not have the humility of Jesus, which maybe at that time, these brothers also have not learned yet. We always seem to think that those are the best things – status and security – as our minds are shaped by the world. That is why, we need to learn from Him – be equipped by Him – for servanthood.
To follow Jesus means that we are willing to give up the world and be more responsive to Him and others instead of ourselves.
When others taste just how good Jesus is, I think to walk away from the world wouldn’t be that hard because you gain so much more.
That is a hard question. I know I didn’t at all nail it.
I believe our world today has left us with growing greed and growing selfishness. It has removed from many the desire to “help others” and just be there for those in need. Wordly “fixes” are used first and when all else fails we turn to God. Our environment enables us to depend on others and not God.
Pride, greed and selfishness are barriers that we must erase from our lives and refill with a deeper faith in God, with obedience to Him more our way of life. We cannot live with one foot in the world and the other in God’s word.
The world is truly getting darker and darker all the time. I have to realize that I and everyone in the Body are called to be His Ambassadors, His light and representatives of His character. I find for me that it’s a daily dying of self, giving over fear, feelings of low self-esteem and my propensity to judge and criticize others too quickly and unfairly, and putting on humility, seeing their needs as more important, seeing that they are truly lost sheep without a Shepherd. But honoring Christ for everything He did for us is truly a privilege and worth the “discomfort” I sometimes feel. It’s so wonderful to know I do not stand alone.
Giving all honor and glory to our Lord and savoir Jesus Christ who is the Lord of Lord’s and King of King’s and not to our selves.
I think that fear/lack of faith/trust keeps me from truly serving. While I’m sure fear of what others will think or say plays a part, I think most likely it’s a lack of trust that if I choose to give my life away and become a servant that God will provide for me. I need to remember that God doesn’t need any help to sustain me. Oh God – help me to just the hurdle of distrust and to follow without hesitation!
I am living that question now in my life. When I go to the Lord in prayer about it, He tells me to wait and live one moment at a time. He tells me He will never ask me to do anything that He hasn’t given me the power to do. The difficulty is staying connected to Him in prayer because life can be so distracting and there is also an enemy that tries to keep me from seeking Him. It is very difficult to remember His awesome power and that He has hold of me and will not let me fall because He knows my heart. In the end, He is in control and He loves me and I have made my choice to the best of my ability. He will prompt me the same way He prompted all the people that He decided/decides to use. Waiting for that prompting may be the most difficult thing of all. There is a lot of pressure from within and surrounding me to DO SOMETHING for Christ. But when I resist that pressure and wait for Him, I am very blessed – perhaps He uses me without my even knowing it. He just wants me to be kind and to remember His love.
Hi Mel,
This is a wonderful insight. I have never seen it this way in regard to ” status seekers rather than servants.” I can see why a lot of people want to be leaders today not servantleaders. Most people love the title, ”Servant of God” but they do not want to do they job of a servant because they are after the benefits not the responsibilities involved.