A series on Leadership: Part One
Isn’t it interesting. We human beings are something else. Time passing, antiquity, modernness, it doesn’t matter. Somehow, people (or their Mamas) just always want to be in charge.
In Matthew 22: 20-23 it says, “The mother of James and John came to Jesus with her two sons. She knelt down and started begging him to do something for her. Jesus asked her what she wanted, and she said, “When you come into your kingdom, please let one of my sons sit at your right side and the other at your left.” Jesus answered, “Not one of you knows what you are asking. Are you able to drink from the cup that I must soon drink from?” James and John said, “Yes, we are!” Jesus replied, “You certainly will drink from my cup! But it isn’t for me to say who will sit at my right side and at my left. That is for my Father to say.”
We’ve all heard the expression “There are too many chiefs and not enough Indians.” Well Mrs Mary Salome Zebedee wanted her sons to be the chief chiefs! Am I the only one who sees this mama was not asking out of the concern for her sons but out of some type of desire to see her sons elevated and recognized? Their elevation would lead to her recognition and bragging rights. Can you imagine her walking around Heaven if Jesus had granted her wish? “Hello. Oh you know my sons? You know the ones who sit at the right hand AND the left hand of Jesus. I was just telling someone the other day how my sons are the 2nd in command of Jesus’ Kingdom. Yes girl, He can’t make a decision without consulting them first.” OH MY GOODNESS. You know I’m right LOL. Ms. Mary was looking for her sons to be her stepping stones into prestige. It wasn’t enough for her that her sons were Jesus’ followers. She needed to know her sons would step up into greater rulership, even above the others.
Everybody wants to be the leader but rarely do we see someone eager to be the follower. I’ve seen people clamor to be leaders. They want the limelight, the prestige and the honor that comes with being a leader. But sometimes those same people do not accept what comes with the responsibility of that title. Sure, it’s great when everything is going well. They will take credit for that. But how great of a leader are they when everything is not so good? There is blame a’plenty to pass around, yet they can’t seem to find fault in their own actions. And are they able to handle it if one of their “followers” has greater success or elevation than they themselves have achieved? “Woe be unto thee who gets a promotion over me!”
I’ve also seen people, especially in the church, who think that a title and man’s recognition endorse them to some type of elevation. The bible talks about a type of hierarchy or leadership within the church. We sometimes call it the 5-fold ministry, which consists of those who hold or operate in the office or position of an apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher. There are those who believe that instead of these being a calling and appointment by God, they are stepping stones into greater leadership. It’s not enough to be a pastor, rather they look at “pastor” being the low rung which will help them move up into becoming a bishop, prelate, etc, etc, etc. They are not satisfied with a “minor prophet” calling, instead they are looking to be elevated to “chief” prophet of the house. They don’t see leadership as a service to others but that which will serve their own purposes. And do not get me wrong. It’s not limited to only the church. It happens in businesses, corporations, schools and even families too. Not all leaders are like this. But trust me, there are a lot of them out there that act like leadership is a right and not a privilege.
When we go back to Matthew 22, we see that when the other disciples heard about the sons of thunder Mama’s shenanigans, they let James and John have it. In verse 25 “Jesus called the disciples together and said: You know that foreign rulers like to order their people around. And their great leaders have full power over everyone they rule. But don’t act like them. If you want to be great, you must be the servant of all the others. And if you want to be first, you must be the slave of the rest. The Son of Man did not come to be a slave master, but a slave who will give his life to rescue many people.” Jesus made it crystal clear: in order to be elevated you must become one who doesn’t mind looking humiliated. A true leader in the Kingdom of God is one who becomes a slave to servanthood.
Is that the type of leadership mentality you are willing to have? Or do you see leadership as a ladder to something greater?
Leadership is not about leading, it’s about following. (Somebody is going to get that when they wake up in the morning…) It is about instilling hard-work, dedication, integrity and honor into those they are charged to lead. Leadership is climbing up the rungs of success only to show others that they themselves are capable of doing the same. Leadership is about making the ladder a tool to push others up and over the wall of greatness.
Jesus is our leader and He never showed or exemplified a ladder mentality. Throughout the Gospels, in everything that Jesus did, He educated, equipped and empowered those around Him to do the same. He healed the sick. His people healed the sick. He cast out demons. His people cast out demons. He raised the dead. His people raised the dead. Jesus did not use the apostles, disciples and believers as stepping stones and means to success. No. Rather, He showed Himself to be a great leader by being an example of humbleness, respect and differential treatment to all around. Then cloned Himself by giving us the power and anointing to make all of us great leaders too. He used the ladder to turn back around and help us climb up higher, to be seated in Heavenly places with Him.
A Kingdom minded leader would never allow the potential for recognition, elevation and power to get in the way of service to God and His people. A true and transformational leader will serve others with all that they do. They would never use those they lead to become mere rungs on the ladder to their personal success. James and John both learned the lesson of humility and servant leadership. Each of them did eventually drink the same cup as Jesus, dying for the sake of the Good News. But it was their leadership through humility and service that gave us some of the greatest testimonies and revelations of God our Father. It was in their submission to servanthood (to the point of death) that they were elevated to one of the four and twenty thrones surrounding the Great Throne of God. Likewise, we must be willing to cast down our crown for the sake of serving those we lead.
Ultimately, leadership is not a means to an end but it’s sole purpose is servanthood. And a great leader would never allow a ladder to get in the way of that.
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