Theologian Albert Schweitzer said, “I don’t know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who will have sought and found how to serve.
Paul said, “Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.”
Two great leaders…both agree that if you want to be a great leader and find blessings in life, you must learn to serve. However, we looked at our Savior last Sunday and discovered four ways to work on serving others:
1. Put other ahead of your own agenda.
Leaders serve people, looking at their needs first. They have loving concerns for others greater than personal concerns. We are trained to finish first in front of the pack. But Jesus says, that’s not the way it works in my Kingdom. A leader never finishes the finish line alone.
Jim Whittaker (experienced mountain climber) said that of all his accomplishments, what gave him the most fulfillment; “I’ve taken more climbers to Mt. Everest than any other mountain peak.” He took others to a level they could not reach on their own.
Romans 12:9, “Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good.” Put others ahead of your own agenda. Don’t look for or need recognition or a pat on the back. You whole job is to add value to others.
2. Put yourself in a position of being stretched!
You have to get out of your comfort zone – grow, learn. Stretch to serve others. Many years ago I was on a mission trip to a Cherokee Indian Reservation in North Carolina. One of my areas of serving involved two days working in a nursing home. I’ll admit that I’m very uncomfortable in nursing homes. But my time with a 90 year old woman who was chewing tobacco ended up being okay. That was a stretch for me and yet also a blessing.
In John 13, Jesus washed the feet of others. He’s a teacher, a Savior, a miracle worker, not a foot washing servant. My dad would share stories of growing up on the farm with 7 siblings. The one story that I never got over was how his sister and him would have to stand in the fields early in the morning to watch the cattle. I’m not sure if the fencing was down or what, but they would stand out there for a long period of time and their feet would get cold. They were barefoot. So they stood in piles of fresh cow manure to warm up their feet. That’s gross! Praise God for shoes and socks. Remember, in Biblical times people walked the streets in sandals or barefoot. The same streets that cows, donkeys, horses, and sheep walked. It was like walking the 4H barns 24/7. Your feet are going to be nasty. Jesus washed those feet! He had the title, power…but he stretched himself to a position of serving.
Philippians 2:6-8 says, “Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being.”
3. Contrast truth and ask “who do I really want to represent?”
We wear jerseys, shirts, etc. showing our allegiance to a team. Your actions shows your allegiance to the God of this universe or his opponent Satan. You can serve or be served. With Jesus, God’s Son, you represent Him by Servanthood. With Satan you represent him by selfishness.
We read about Satan in Isaiah 14:12-14, “How you are fallen from heaven, O shining star, son of the morning! You have been thrown down to the earth, you who destroyed the nations of the world. For you said to yourself, ‘I will ascend to heaven and set my throne above God’s stars. I will preside on the mountain of the gods far away in the north. I will climb to the highest heavens and be like the Most High.” Satan sought the glory and it led to defeat and destruction.
We read about Jesus in Philippians 2:9-11, “Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” For Jesus, servanthood led to glory!
Your allegiance is demonstrated by action. Which leads to my final point…
4. Initiate service to others. “DO as I have done”
What is the best exercise program? P90X, Crossfit training, etc.? There are just as many great exercise programs as there are opinions. Truly the best exercise for strengthening the heart is reaching down and lifting up people.
It’s not about your position or title. Starter, captain, 1St Team, Valedictorian, CEO, Lead Pastor, State Director. Those are nice, and congratulations. But when you become position conscious, you lose sight of others.
John 13:15-17 “Jesus said, I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.”
The challenge in being a leader is to learn to serve. We can do it! Go be the church – go serve.
God bless you as you faithfully and prayerfully serve Him.
Paul said, “Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.”
Two great leaders…both agree that if you want to be a great leader and find blessings in life, you must learn to serve. However, we looked at our Savior last Sunday and discovered four ways to work on serving others:
1. Put other ahead of your own agenda.
Leaders serve people, looking at their needs first. They have loving concerns for others greater than personal concerns. We are trained to finish first in front of the pack. But Jesus says, that’s not the way it works in my Kingdom. A leader never finishes the finish line alone.
Jim Whittaker (experienced mountain climber) said that of all his accomplishments, what gave him the most fulfillment; “I’ve taken more climbers to Mt. Everest than any other mountain peak.” He took others to a level they could not reach on their own.
Romans 12:9, “Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good.” Put others ahead of your own agenda. Don’t look for or need recognition or a pat on the back. You whole job is to add value to others.
2. Put yourself in a position of being stretched!
You have to get out of your comfort zone – grow, learn. Stretch to serve others. Many years ago I was on a mission trip to a Cherokee Indian Reservation in North Carolina. One of my areas of serving involved two days working in a nursing home. I’ll admit that I’m very uncomfortable in nursing homes. But my time with a 90 year old woman who was chewing tobacco ended up being okay. That was a stretch for me and yet also a blessing.
In John 13, Jesus washed the feet of others. He’s a teacher, a Savior, a miracle worker, not a foot washing servant. My dad would share stories of growing up on the farm with 7 siblings. The one story that I never got over was how his sister and him would have to stand in the fields early in the morning to watch the cattle. I’m not sure if the fencing was down or what, but they would stand out there for a long period of time and their feet would get cold. They were barefoot. So they stood in piles of fresh cow manure to warm up their feet. That’s gross! Praise God for shoes and socks. Remember, in Biblical times people walked the streets in sandals or barefoot. The same streets that cows, donkeys, horses, and sheep walked. It was like walking the 4H barns 24/7. Your feet are going to be nasty. Jesus washed those feet! He had the title, power…but he stretched himself to a position of serving.
Philippians 2:6-8 says, “Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being.”
3. Contrast truth and ask “who do I really want to represent?”
We wear jerseys, shirts, etc. showing our allegiance to a team. Your actions shows your allegiance to the God of this universe or his opponent Satan. You can serve or be served. With Jesus, God’s Son, you represent Him by Servanthood. With Satan you represent him by selfishness.
We read about Satan in Isaiah 14:12-14, “How you are fallen from heaven, O shining star, son of the morning! You have been thrown down to the earth, you who destroyed the nations of the world. For you said to yourself, ‘I will ascend to heaven and set my throne above God’s stars. I will preside on the mountain of the gods far away in the north. I will climb to the highest heavens and be like the Most High.” Satan sought the glory and it led to defeat and destruction.
We read about Jesus in Philippians 2:9-11, “Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” For Jesus, servanthood led to glory!
Your allegiance is demonstrated by action. Which leads to my final point…
4. Initiate service to others. “DO as I have done”
What is the best exercise program? P90X, Crossfit training, etc.? There are just as many great exercise programs as there are opinions. Truly the best exercise for strengthening the heart is reaching down and lifting up people.
It’s not about your position or title. Starter, captain, 1St Team, Valedictorian, CEO, Lead Pastor, State Director. Those are nice, and congratulations. But when you become position conscious, you lose sight of others.
John 13:15-17 “Jesus said, I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.”
The challenge in being a leader is to learn to serve. We can do it! Go be the church – go serve.
God bless you as you faithfully and prayerfully serve Him.
Pastor Rex