WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL
JULY 15, 2024
TOPIC: CHRISTIAN LEADERS MUST BE SERVANTS, NOT TYRANTS
BY T. O. BANSO
“So Jesus called them and said to them, ‘You know that among the gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them’” (Mark 10:42 New Revised Standard Version).
Jesus, in addition to showing through His life a perfect example of leadership also taught His disciples about leadership among themselves. Power and authority are to be used but many people are tempted to abuse them even in the church. Every minister of God must follow the leadership example and principles of the Lord Jesus Christ in church government. His example and leadership principles are also applicable outside the gospel ministry.
In Mark 10, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to ask Jesus to do for them whatever they asked, and He asked them what they wanted. They replied that He should let one of them sit at His right and the other at His left in His glory. Jesus told them they didn’t know what they were asking for and asked them if they could drink the cup He would drink or be baptized with the baptism He was baptized with. Although they said they could, Jesus answered, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared” (verses 39-40 New International Version).
When the other ten disciples heard what James and John said, they were indignant, angry, or irritated. “But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, ‘You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them’” (Mark 10:42 New King James Version). Matthew 20:25 records the same thing.
In this verse, Jesus pointed out to His disciples the leadership style in the world: the rulers lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But Jesus said among His disciples, it must not be so. “Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all” (Mark 10:43-44 New King James Version). When Jesus said those considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them, was He against using power and authority? No. He was against their abuse.
When Jesus said, “Those considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them”, what did He mean? He meant “those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles dominate them” (Holman Christian Standard Bible) or “those foreigners who call themselves kings like to order their people around” (Contemporary English Version). Jesus did not tell His disciples not to use their leadership authority but not to be domineering or order fellow followers of Christ around. They should not lord it over those they lead. They should see themselves as brothers and sisters, fellow disciples.
In a similar statement in Mark 10:42, Jesus said, among the Gentiles, “Their great ones exercise authority over them”, as the New King James Version puts it. Matthew 20:25 puts the phrase thus: “Those who are great exercise authority over them.” What was wrong with that? Some Bible translations explain this phrase.
The New Revised Standard Version says, “So Jesus called them and said to them, ‘You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them’” (Mark 10:42). Note the phrase “Their great ones are tyrants over them.” That’s what the New King James Version renders as “Their great ones exercise authority over them.” The Amplified Bible says, “Their powerful men exercise authority over them [tyrannizing them].” The International Standard Version says, “Their superiors act like tyrants over them.” A tyrant is an oppressor, a bully, or a dictator. The Cambridge Dictionary defines a tyrant as “a ruler who has unlimited power over other people, and uses it unfairly and cruelly”
A Christian leader must not be a tyrant. He must not be drunk with power and abuse His authority and the people he leads, brothers and sisters in the faith, and children of God. The New Living Translations says their “Officials flaunt their authority over those under them.” A Christian leader must not flaunt his authority or use his power or authority to intimidate or harass a fellow Christian. His authority is not for show or exhibitionism but to serve those God has brought under it.
Jesus said, “But it is not so among you; instead, whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many” (Mark 20:43-45 New Revised Standard Version). Christian leadership is for service, not for tyrannical or arbitrary show of power or authority. Jesus came to serve and not to be served. He gave His life as a ransom for many.
Christian leaders must know that they are servants. They must see themselves as servants like the rest. Greatness in the kingdom of God is seen in service, not in the number of people serving you. Anyone who wishes to become great among the followers of Jesus must be the servant of the rest and anyone who wishes to be first among them must be a slave of all.
Jesus says something similar to Mark 20:42-45 in Matthew 20:25-28: “You know that the rulers of the gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. It will not be so among you, but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave, just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many” (New Revised Standard Version). Did you see the word “tyrants” again? A minister of God must not be or act like a tyrant. They may do so in the world, but it must not be so in the church. Even in the world, the people sometimes or ultimately revolt against tyrants.
Peter must have been influenced by the example and teaching of Jesus on leadership when he said in 1 Peter 5:2-4, “Feed the flock of God; care for it willingly, not grudgingly; not for what you will get out of it but because you are eager to serve the Lord. Don’t be tyrants, but lead them by your good example, and when the Head Shepherd comes, your reward will be a never-ending share in his glory and honor” (Living Bible). Note the warning “Don’t be tyrants.” Peter was talking to the church elders.
A Christian leader must not lord it over the people or be tyrannical. He must be an example of a servant leader like Jesus. Avoid arrogance. This is one temptation that leaders face, particularly when people begin to follow them, and they begin to see results. They wrongly assume that the people exist for them or that they must be following them because they are indispensable!
Luke 22:25-27 stresses the same truth. “And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’ But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves” (New King James Version). Use your authority and power to serve fellow brothers and sisters, not to be a tyrant. Tyrannical use of power and authority must not be heard among believers. Proverbs 28:16a says, “A ruler without good sense will be a cruel tyrant” (Good News Translation).
Whoever wants to be first among the believers must be a slave of all (Mark 10:44; Matthew 20:27). Anyone who wants to be first, must be the very last, and the servant of all (Mark 9:35b). Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted (Matthew 23:12; Luke 14:11, 18:14b).
Whatever your title is, don’t rule or coerce God’s people as you lead. Be humble. There is nothing to be proud of. If you become proud, God can take the same followers from you and give them to another shepherd. Why are you proud? As Nebuchadnezzar says in Daniel 4:37b, God can humble those who walk in pride. Proverbs 16: 18 says, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall” (New International Version).
TAKE ACTION!
If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus now. Take the following steps: *Admit that you are a sinner and cannot save yourself and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church. There they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.
Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto You today. I know I am a sinner and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and God raised Him on the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I surrender my life to Jesus now and invite Him into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.
I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You must join a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church in your area where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like a palm tree and grow like a cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.
PRAYER POINTS: Holy Spirit, help all Christian leaders to be servants, not tyrants. Help them to serve the people of God with humility. Let them not exalt but humble themselves.
(For over 900 in-depth and powerful messages by T. O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).
T. O. Banso is the President of Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
Phone No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523
WhatsApp No: +2349081295947
Email: cedarministryintl@yahoo.com,
cedarministryng@gmail.com
Website: www.cedarministry.org
