Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers 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 slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:42-45
The quest for a differentiating service or product costs businesses enormous resources underscoring its importance to profitability. Being unique positively brings with it a challenge to competitors or peers leading to a motivation to do likewise. Jesus taught His followers to be unique in a world that Satan has brought so much darkness and failures into; that people may know that they are His followers (John 13:34-35) and change their ways through such knowledge and come to the Light from the darkness they have been accustomed to. Apostle Peter advised wives that “…if any of them (the husbands) do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behaviour of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives” (I Peter 3:1-2). The uniqueness of our life style would bring many to Christ without uttering a word.
In Mathew 5: Jesus asked the disciples, “If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?” As Christians, Jesus expects us to be different from the rest of the world in our attitude to life generally. The way we love, our priorities, our leadership style should be different. As followers we should be different by being obedient and praying always for our leaders (Hebrew 13:17, 1Timothy 2:1-2) and as leaders we should be different, not lording or exercising authority over the led but serving them (Mark 10:42-45). That difference is in itself a motivation that will bring the rest of the world to the truth and serve the living God.
Today is our vestry meeting, where we shall be reviewing the progress our church has made in the past year and elect leaders to manage the church this year. The question is what type of leaders are we going to elect or what criteria are we going to use to elect them? Shall we vote or choose leaders because they have been lobbying us for our votes, they are friends, tribesmen or our associates or shall we be prayerfully electing those we believe are God-fearing and will have genuine ideas to move the church of God forward?. Moses father-in-law, Jethro, advised him to “…select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens” (Exodus 18:21). Moses was a leader with a difference; God-fearing, committed and focused. He was in charge of everything until the in-law advised him to select assistants for quicker reaction to issues without compromising the quality of decisions. Also in Acts 6, the twelve asked for election of people “…who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom…: to become deacons, who will see to the needs of the people (Acts 6:1-4). The difference we make as Christians, which becomes an example for the world, is when we base our selections on the attribute Jethro suggested to Moses and the early church used in selecting the seven deacons.
To those elected to the PCC what type of leadership are we going to provide? In the Gospel read to us today, Jesus, after washing the disciples’ feet, asked them “Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you” (John 13:12-15).
In the world outside, especially our nation, leadership is seen over the years as a means of recognition, popularity and self-enrichment and not an opportunity for service. Many lobby and some would kill to attain certain positions. James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus with a request for special positions in His coming kingdom. The others became indignant over such requests. Jesus later taught all of them that greatness comes through being a servant leader (Mark 10:35-45). The church must teach this to the world through its attitude to leadership in the church and wherever we have the opportunity to lead in the secular world.
Have a fruitful Council year as you elect people who will place themselves under God’s constant influence and do only His will for the church.
Your brother, Vicar & Archdeacon
Igein Isemede.