Monday, April 12, 2010

Many Are Called, Few Are Chosen

Leader or Servant?

Leadership, something I’ve always revered. A leader, something I’ve always wanted to be. I asked and thanks to God, I received. He has blessed me with a some excellent leadership opportunities over the last few years. I want to dispense some of those things, I’ve learned in my short time in those shoes.
Jesus was and is, a leader. No doubt about it. He led His disciples, He conducts over all creation, etc. However, for most of the bible, beyond public speaking, you see very little “leading”.  What do you see?
Instead you see a servant. He puts others over himself numerous times. Why is that? Well first look to Mark 10:45. Now there is your reason: he wasn’t here to lead. He was here to serve and to sacrifice. That may make you speculate, so was he a leader? Well, it’s clear all throughout the Word that Jesus is, most certainly, a leader.


Sacrifice

The answer lies in that to lead, you must serve and sacrifice. A leader isn’t a station of exaltation, all on it’s own. A leader removes “self” from the equation and instead takes on a role for all who he leads over. His “self” is still there but it’s after everyone else. A leader after doing that, takes on the worries, issues, and situations of the group and makes it his main priority. There lies the sacrifice. You sacrifice “self” and all the baggage that comes with that for the greater good. The honor that often comes with being a leader, is a result of that sacrifice. It’s an honor because it’s laborious. If it was straightforward everyone would be a leader. Leadership as we all know requires an abundance of responsibility and competency. That is because of that sacrifice, it’s not easy  to keep and hence takes a whole lot to keep that commitment.
Matthew 20:16  "In the same way, the last will be first, and the first will be last, because many are called, but few are chosen."
That’s the ticket right there. It fires the old concept of being a leader out the window. The leader will be last, and the servant will be first. This verse has a lot to be said about it. However this is the motif for this material. If you feel called by God to be a leader in some type of embodiment, then listen.  It’s not undoubtedly going to be prestigious, it will come at a cost, and you are to be held at a much higher level of accountability. MANY are called. FEW are chosen.
That’s not to scare you, that’s being real with you. I’ve only seen it on a rather small scale and let me tell you, it gets real serious, real fast, without regard to what kind of leadership.

Know Your Faults and Limits

I want to also talk on another matter though. A few weeks ago my pastor, Ronnie Floyd, was discussing generosity. He said that you shouldn’t buy something if you are willing to give it away. If you can’t let go of it, then don’t buy it.  It was a word on stewardship and the fact nothing is truly ours. All belongs to God and is given by Him to use for Him.
I want to turn that to leadership. Do not take a position of leadership freely. Discern and work through what it means to have that position before you undertake it. Don’t take a position in leadership, if you can’t let it go. If you can’t step down, then you shouldn’t be up there in the first place. Unlike material goods though, a position in leadership can shift direction and purpose over time. Realize this, and act accordingly. If things change and you feel those feelings invade that are making it harder and harder to let go or making you more and more possessive, let it go. Give it up. That’s often a signal to move on or at least take a break. I can’t speak with certainty but I wonder if that’s a reason why John Piper is taking an eight month leave of absence. If so then, good for him!
You can write novels on leadership and I have volumes of other things that I’d love to say, but this was what was on my heart. I feel that these two points are greatly missed by the leaders of today and tomorrow. This is for those leaders looking to take up the reins in the workforce and in the community, and it’s especially for those looking to be leaders in the Church.  Think hard before making your choices. I’m praying for all of us.
Much Love,
Luke
“If I cannot in honest happiness take the second place (or the twentieth); if I cannot take the first without making a fuss about my unworthiness, then I know nothing of Calvary love.” - Anonymous
“The real test of a saint is not one's willingness to preach the gospel, but one's willingness to do something like washing the disciples' feet - that is, being willing to do those things that seem unimportant in human estimation but count as everything to God.” –Oswald Chambers
“If you serve others for the reward of gaining their admiration and gratitude, then your reward will be fleeting and ultimately dissatisfying. If you serve others for the reward of bringing pleasure to your Father God's heart as you work side by side with him, then you will gain eternal rewards.” - Anonymous

1 comments:

Patrinas Pencil said...

Great post , as always! You're still full of TRUTH and still got the fire in your belly!! Remain strong...God has big plans for you. You are chosen.

God bless you, Luke

Patrina <")>><

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