Jesus called them together and said, “You know
that the 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 your slave—
just as the Son of Man did not come to be served,
but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for
many.”
I never cease to be amazed at how our world continues to affirm things Jesus taught us 2000 years ago! Did you follow the unsavory story of Donald Sterling over the past couple of weeks? Donald Sterling is the billionaire owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, a professional basketball team. A few weeks ago he was secretly recorded making offensive and racially charged comments which subsequently were made public. The result was widespread public outrage. After an investigation into Mr. Sterling’s comments, as well as a number of other issues, he was eventually banned for life from the NBA by the commissioner of the league. The justification for the unprecedented action was not just Mr. Sterling’s racial insensitivity, but his abuse of power and authority in treating his employees with such disrespect.
I never cease to be amazed at how our world continues to affirm things Jesus taught us 2000 years ago! Did you follow the unsavory story of Donald Sterling over the past couple of weeks? Donald Sterling is the billionaire owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, a professional basketball team. A few weeks ago he was secretly recorded making offensive and racially charged comments which subsequently were made public. The result was widespread public outrage. After an investigation into Mr. Sterling’s comments, as well as a number of other issues, he was eventually banned for life from the NBA by the commissioner of the league. The justification for the unprecedented action was not just Mr. Sterling’s racial insensitivity, but his abuse of power and authority in treating his employees with such disrespect.
Jesus speaks to the human tendency to crave position
and power; as well as the sin of using authority to abuse
others when he said:
“You know that the 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 your slave—
Jesus is turning our understanding of authority, leadership and greatness upside down. He is teaching us that true greatness, true leadership, true authority is not using power and position to coerce others into obedient servitude; rather, it is using one’s power and position to serve others and to inspire them to serve in return.
In his book, “Gates of Fire,” author Steven Pressfield tells the story of King Leonidas of Sparta and his 300 warriors who fought the Persians at the famous Battle of Thermopylae. Toward the end of the book, after King Leonidas dies with his troops, one of his servants describes his king with these words:
I will tell (you) what a king is. A king does not abide within his tent while his men bleed and die upon the field. A king does not dine while his men go hungry, nor sleep when they stand at watch upon the wall. A king does not command his men’s loyalty through fear nor purchase it with gold; he earns their love by the sweat of his own back and the pains he endures for their sake. That which comprises the harshest burden, a king lifts first and sets down last. A king does not require service of those he leads but provides it to them. He serves them, not they him.
“You know that the 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 your slave—
Jesus is turning our understanding of authority, leadership and greatness upside down. He is teaching us that true greatness, true leadership, true authority is not using power and position to coerce others into obedient servitude; rather, it is using one’s power and position to serve others and to inspire them to serve in return.
In his book, “Gates of Fire,” author Steven Pressfield tells the story of King Leonidas of Sparta and his 300 warriors who fought the Persians at the famous Battle of Thermopylae. Toward the end of the book, after King Leonidas dies with his troops, one of his servants describes his king with these words:
I will tell (you) what a king is. A king does not abide within his tent while his men bleed and die upon the field. A king does not dine while his men go hungry, nor sleep when they stand at watch upon the wall. A king does not command his men’s loyalty through fear nor purchase it with gold; he earns their love by the sweat of his own back and the pains he endures for their sake. That which comprises the harshest burden, a king lifts first and sets down last. A king does not require service of those he leads but provides it to them. He serves them, not they him.
Jesus said it this way,
“...the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
We are to serve because our King first served us.
Pastor Brian Coffey
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment