Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care,
watching over them—not because you must,
but because you are willing, as God wants you to be;
not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve;
Not domineering over those in your charge,
but being examples to the flock.
1 Peter 5:2-3 ESV
How may I serve you today, my dear girlfriends? Scrub your floors? Clean your toilets? Wipe down the sinks?
Before you think I have gone completely crazy, or am soliciting business for Merry Maids, let me tell you a story. I have a friend whose son is in his early 20's. This young man took an entry level position at a company. In a short amount of time, his hard work was acknowledged and resulted in a promotion to a supervisor. As one of his first acts as a manager, this young man cleaned the nasty bathrooms at his place of employment. Can you imagine his new subordinates observing this act? Perhaps at first they were resentful that this new guy had gotten a promotion so quickly, or that this youngster was going to be bossing them around? Just when their righteous indignation was fully in flames, the guy goes and cleans the toilets. Really? What's up with that?
Well, as a manager, my friend's son took the example of Christ to heart and decided to truly model the servant leader. He saw a problem: disgusting restroom facilities. He knew the solution: daily cleaning and maintenance. He humbled himself and placed his name at the top of the rotation for this sanitizing schedule. Then, he informed his subordinates that they would each be assigned a day of the week, including himself, for maintaining the conditions of the restrooms. Impressive!
Jesus was really on to something when he told us in Luke 22:26 "Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves." I am fascinated that my friend's son enacted this principle in such a humbling and base manner. Not many young people lower themselves to such tasks. Pondering the consequences and potential results, I believe that his workers will follow him as a leader into large battles now that they have seen his faithfulness to them in the small, menial tasks. Showing them firsthand that he is willing to enter the trenches as their leader, or urinals as the case may have it, speaks volumes about this man's dedication to his workers and employer.
Was this also the result Jesus desired? If the disciples observed Him washing feet--one of the lowest acts performed by servants in His day--would they definitely not follow Him to the death as their leader and Messiah in the larger task of spreading the Gospel to the lost world? And how much more were they bound to one another through the washing of each others' feet as well?
And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:42-45
Living to serve...Serving as a way of life...leading by example...giving upyour life for the many...not lording authority over others...a slave to all. Powerful words, compelling us to examine our ways. Ladies, I pray the Lord's example will touch you in some special way today as you determine the direction of your leadership life--and make no mistake, you are all leading someone, somehow.
Servant leadership...how can I assist you today? I am here, toilet wand and Lysol in hand...just a phone call or email away!
I love you, my dear friends! Be blessed.
