Responses to this Lesson
Don´t lord over but be a servant: by Chris Priebe
Rated 3 of 5 by 6 users (Print Notes)
I have seen two kinds of leaders in the groups I have worked with. One kind love to be a leader so they can stand up tall and look down on all the petty followers and give orders. This gives them a sense of rush. Others go around and look for ways to help. They see hurting people sitting in the sidelines, they see dirty dishes and start cleaning. Completely different attitudes. Jesus said,
"You know that the rules 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." (Matthew 20:20-28 )
Many leaders today stomp on toes in order to climb the ladder of life only to find it leaning on the wrong wall. Jesus taught us to lay down our life on a cross so we can help others up to the way of life.
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deecee4jaycee writes on 2002-03-25
This category really stumped me for the last ten days...how do you respond to being humble without sounding "unhumble"? Humility is something that is within and not something that can be talked about for the more you talk about how humble you are the less humble you are! Part of an old Country and Western song kept repeating itself in my mind....
Oh, Lord its hard to be humble
When youĄre perfect in every way
I canĄt wait to look in the mirror
ĄCause I get better lookinĄ each day
To know me is to love me
I must be a heck of a man
Oh, Lord its hard to be humble but,
IĄm doinĄ the best that I can....
A perfect example of this kind of humility is found in the teachings of our Lord...Luke 18:10-14
True humility can be found in Luke 1:35
- by deecee4jaycee
Jen C. writes on 2002-05-05
I have been active in an adult singles ministry at my church for over three years now. One of the ladies who helped start the ministry and serves as a leader asked me if I would consider being a group leader over a year ago. My response seemed right - I promised to pray about it and told her I would get back to her. My answer ended up being no because I didnĄt think I was gifted in leadership or mature enough in my faith. A few months ago God showed me through a devotional that "leaders" are really SERVANTS. I didnĄt have to be good enough or wise enough only HUMBLE enough to serve.
- by Jen C.
plumcharlie writes on 2002-07-03
I tend to be the leader that tries to do everything - not to impress others, but to impress myself. I know that sounds a bit strange, but I truly get a kick out of doings things for God and His people. Many times, my help is not needed or even wanted and I will get my feelings hurt. But yesterday, God reminded me of how a college youth wanted to help with our VBS program and was assigned to my group. When I discovered who my helper was, I was annoyed. She is a spiritually great person - but somewhat lazy. But God, in His wonderful way, humbled me when I volunteered to help out with our skit and was turned down. He showed me that it hurts not to be wanted or needed and even though we desire to do things, others may have other ideas and/or motives. I thanked God for blessing me with some humble wisdom and realized that my helper will do just fine and long as I give her something of her interest to help with. I was being unfair. Lazy (in my opinion) or not, she did volunteer to serve. Now, I am praying that God will show me how to best serve her.
- by plumcharlie
userlw80 writes on 2002-07-04
I have worked with two people who made my life miserable because they became a dictator in the position hoping that the manner in which they tried to force us to work would gain respect for them. I did the job but it was only until the person became a part of the department not a dictator did the attitudes of those in the department change and we all became more productive because we started to like coming to work. Having a humble spirit will gain the respect, being a dictator will make the people abandon you.
- by userlw80
Pastor Rich writes on 2003-02-21
There are those who do what they are asked, and then there are those who "just do".
Servants can be in either group, but just to see something that needs to be done, and doing it is a good characteristic of "being like Jesus". The book of Matthew, I feel, gives the best things or descriptions, on what it means to be like Jesus. Here are just a few examples:
1. Matt 3:1-17 commiting ourselves to other believers, no matter how "Weird they appear to be.
2. Matt 4:12-25 openly proclaim the message of Christ.
3. Matt 10:1-42 affirm others in leadership.
Then fourthly (and keeping with the subject), Matt 8:1 - 9:38 To be like Jesus, means to serve others, especially those who are oppressed or without Christ.
DonĄt wait to be asked..."Just Do It"!!
- by Pastor Rich
Shalomtoyou321@aol.com writes on 2004-02-03
Romans 6-16-22 Man is by nature prideful...I find that there is two types of real servants,
Servents of the flesh, and servents of the spirit
We are called to live in the world but not to be as the world. Remaining free from sin,the things of the world like pride should be veiwed shameful in our eyes as we become servants of God, with the fruit of holiness. It was Pride, to be as God that caused Satan to be cast out of heaven. Jesus Christ came to show us from His humble beginnings at birth, that He came to be a servant of God the Father, surrendering His will that God´s will be done. Sometimes it is important for us to let God "Tear" us down, in order to build us up. To be humble is a learning process not something that just comes to us. We are flesh and prideful by nature, and we cannot conquer this by ourselves, and we are lied to when we think that we can overcome this and become humble without Gods help. Sometimes we must be chastised,(Because he loves us) taken to the bottom, to be taught the fullness of being really humble, and built up. We as Born Again Christians come from servants of sin to servants of righteousness, but it is a process, and the more that we strive to be holy, then we will be able to experience the realness of being humble, and there comes with this a real burning inside to serve others, for that is the example Jesus gave us, OTHERS.
- by Shalomtoyou321@aol.com
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Bibliographical Information: Priebe, Chris Ed. "Authentic Walk Ministries - Online Discipleship Course" <www.authenticwalk.com?Cat=417&P=0&M=&V=&L=> Archived at: 23 May 2013. TOP
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