THE PATTERN OF THE KINGDOM
25 BUT JESUS CALLED THEM TO HIM AND SAID, “YOU KNOW THAT THE RULERS OF THE GENTILES LORD IT OVER THEM, and their great men exercise authority over them.
26 It shall not be so among you, BUT WHOEVER WOULD BE GREAT AMONG YOU MUST BE YOUR SERVANT
27 AND WHOEVER WOULD BE FIRST AMONG YOU MUST BE YOUR SLAVE,
28 EVEN AS THE SON OF MAN CAME NOT TO BE SERVED BUT TO SERVE, AND TO GIVE HIS LIFE AS A RANSOM FOR MANY.”
Matthew 20:25-28 (RSV)
Greatness in the kingdom of God is all about service. If you want to be great in God’s kingdom, that is, you want to be used mightily by God; then you must be ready to serve (Mark 10:44,45).
Jesus left His glory in Heaven and came down to serve, He died for the sin of mankind. Today He sits at the right hand of God the Father, and has been given a great name; that at the mention of His name, every knee bows and every tongue confesses that Jesus is Lord (Philippians 2:4-11,20).
In the world, great people command and order their subjects around; but in God’s kingdom, great people serve (Mark 9:35; 10:44).
A great person would always look for an opportunity to serve. However, it does not mean a leader should perform all the responsibilities and duties in a bid to serve.
A leader should appoint other people to attend to the business affairs of the ministry, that is the norm in the work of ministry:
3 “THEREFORE, BRETHREN, SEEK OUT FROM AMONG YOU SEVEN MEN OF GOOD REPUTATION, FULL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND WISDOM, WHOM WE MAY APPOINT OVER THIS BUSINESS; 4 “BUT WE WILL GIVE OURSELVES CONTINUALLY TO PRAYER AND TO THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD" (Acts 6:3,4 NKJV).
What is service?
Service is satisfying a need.
A great leader in God’s kingdom is the one who is satisfying the needs of the people under him, not the one lording it over them (1 Peter 5:2,3).
13 “YOU CALL ME TEACHER AND LORD, AND YOU SAY WELL, FOR SO I AM.
14 “IF I THEN, YOUR LORD AND TEACHER, HAVE WASHED YOUR FEET, YOU ALSO OUGHT TO WASH ONE ANOTHER'S FEET.
15 “For I HAVE GIVEN YOU AN EXAMPLE, THAT YOU SHOULD DO AS I HAVE DONE TO YOU."
John 13:13-15 (NKJV)
Jesus being an example of a great leader died for our sins to save us from destruction, even when we were in dire need of a Saviour (Romans 5:8).
• Some Men of God milk those who are under them dry; extorting money from them and seeing endless visions for them, but they do not teach them the Word of God that liberates: “AND YOU SHALL KNOW THE TRUTH, AND THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE" (John 8:32 NKJV)
• They cajole, at times coax, the people into giving their money; those who came just to see them for counseling and prayer, yet such people’s needs are not met.
• Jesus saved us, and He serves us, that we may serve others (Luke 22:27; 1 John 3:16). With your eyes fixed on Christ you also can stoop low from whatever high position you have placed yourself and allow the Holy Spirit to work through you to satisfy the needs of those who are under your leadership.
If you do this, greatness is just at the corner!
4 LET EACH OF YOU LOOK OUT NOT ONLY FOR HIS OWN INTERESTS, BUT ALSO FOR THE INTERESTS OF OTHERS.
5 LET THIS MIND BE IN YOU WHICH WAS ALSO IN CHRIST JESUS,
6 WHO, BEING IN THE FORM OF GOD, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,
7 BUT MADE HIMSELF OF NO REPUTATION, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.
8 And being found in appearance as a man, HE HUMBLED HIMSELF AND BECAME OBEDIENT TO THE POINT OF DEATH, EVEN THE DEATH OF THE CROSS.
9 THEREFORE GOD ALSO HAS HIGHLY EXALTED HIM AND GIVEN HIM THE NAME WHICH IS ABOVE EVERY NAME.”
Philippians 2:4-9 (NKJV)
If you humble yourself, God will lift you up (James 4:10).
You will not fail in Jesus’ name. Peace!