Leading by Serving

When I think of someone in charge on a jobsite, I don't think of the men wearing the tools.  What comes to mind is a man wearing a suit and tie, glossy hardhat on his head without a single scratch or sticker, and carrying a tablet.  The boss of the bosses is not paid to swing a hammer, sweat in the sun, or personally install the product:  his role is to make sure the job is manned, coordinated, and completed.  He has assistants who aid him with everything including making copies, proofreading, orders, mailing, cleaning and even picking up lunch.  His time is always at a premium, and it is a waste of valuable company time for him to do menial duties.

God's picture of leadership is quite different from what we see modeled in the world.  Jesus explained this to His disciples in Mark 9:35:  "And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, "If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all."  The greatest in God's kingdom are the ones who are slaves of all.  Those who humble themselves are the ones God will exalt.  Jesus is the prime example of leading through serving.  He could have delegated His authority to angels and men to keep Himself insulated from the pain, disease, oppression, and struggles of people on the earth.  But He didn't delegate what God commanded Him to do.  Philippians 2:5-8 reads, "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."  We are not to only place ourselves in a humble frame of mind, but embrace the lowest and most menial, even undesirable tasks in obedience to God for His glory.  Does being scourged and dying nailed to a cross sound fun?

In the Old Testament, Joseph is a wonderful example of this kind of servant hood.  After being falsely accused of sexual assault, Joseph was thrown into an Egyptian prison.  We read in Genesis 39:21-23, "But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. ²² And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners who were in the prison; whatever they did there, it was his doing."  Joseph was placed in charge of the prison, though he was himself a prisoner.  He was the "shot-caller."  Nothing happened in the prison without him knowing about it and giving his approval.  Though he didn't have fancy clothes, he was the man walking around with a clipboard.  He kept the peace, took care of inventory, and delegated jobs for others to do.  What Joseph said was law in that prison.

Yet even with his authority, Joseph served the men he was given charge of.  It came to pass that two very high profile men - Pharaoh's chief of the butlers and bakers - were sent to prison by Pharaoh himself.  Instead of being placed with the general population, they were incarcerated in a ward in the house of the captain of the guard.  Genesis 40:4 tells us, "And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them; so they were in custody for a while."  Joseph did not delegate the task given to him to a man of lesser status or authority, but he served these men himself.  Joseph was a man to whom power was given, but he still humbled himself to serve others.  Joseph put into practice the exhortation we read in Galatians 5:13:  "For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another."  Joseph did not use his authority as a means to justify sloth but used his freedom to serve even his fellow inmates.

Is there any task which you see as "below" you?  For instance, it is easy for those of us who have children to order them around to do menial tasks we are too lazy to do ourselves.  Following Christ's example, we ought to see ourselves as below God, others, or any task!  If we are blessed by God to have a spouse and children, let us seek to use our liberty to serve one another in love.  If by God's grace we have a job, let us be those who use what authority we have to serve, perhaps taking on the job no one else wants.  When our eyes are focused on Christ, our view of seniority changes dramatically.  Jesus says in Matthew 20:16, "So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen."  If we want to be first, we must be last of all and servant of all.  Since God has chosen us by His grace, may we choose to obey him by serving one another in love!