Topic: True leaders serve others
Bible Reading: 2 Samuel 21-22; Luke 22:1-30.
Memory Verse: “For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.” Luke 22:27 (KJV)
Serving others is the true way to leadership and true greatness in every phase of life. The fundamental principle laid down by our Lord Jesus Christ in Luke 22:27 (KJV), “For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.” applies not only in spiritual matters but in all endeavours. Serving others means prioritizing the needs and well being of others before your own, with a focus on kindness, compassion and generousity. It generally involves taking actions that benefit others. This is what underlies the growth of many big businesses today. Look at Microsoft, it started as a company aimed at providing a service that will make people’s life better in the use of Computer, Tesla focused on how to get a car that will not depend on fossil fuel, the price of which was a major challenge at a time in addition to its environmental pollution. Back in Africa, Dangote was focused on how to make cement available to Nigerians in particular and Africans in general without depending on any significant importation. Same reason behind Dangote‘s refinery in Nigeria. Though these moves had a profit motive behind them but the first step is meeting the needs of the people by serving them the product or service that will accomplish that objective!
Therefore when the Lord talks about serving people as a leader, it is a fundamental principle that should underlie all our activities as Christians. You should be looking for ways to provide solutions to people’s needs at various levels. When you succeed, you wil be serving people and you will also achieve a leadership position particularly if you do it excellently. Unfortunately, most people have taken the satanic route of lording it over people as their leader. That may work for some time but will crumble because it is on a wrong foundation. The question that you should be asking yourself now is what service are you providing for people? How can you make their lives better than the current situation? You can further identify other needs of people and begin to seek the face of God on how best to meet those needs. As you do that, you will be providing service and leadership and greatness will emerge from there!
As a child of God, you should focus on the needs of the people and spiritually seek solutions to those things. You will be amazed how light will shine on you and you will become a great leader!
True Christian leaders started that way. I listened to Pastor David Yonggi Cho and how he started the ministry asking God for how to provide solutions to the physical, material and spiritual needs of the people in his neighbourhood and over time, God revealed to him how to meet those needs by the instrumentality of the Holy Spirit. Similarly, Pastor Adeboye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God said on one of his birthdays, God asked him what he wanted and he said miracles for his congregation, that is how God directed him on how to start the church’s Holy Ghost service which has the largest gathering of believers in the church’s programmes. Whether you align with these men of God or not does not matter, what is important is if you truly search for the good of the general public around you, God will show you the way to that provision and you will achieve your desired goals. No wonder God says in Ephesians 3:20 (KJV), “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,” There is so much power in you and it’s for you to unleash it by putting service first and seeking God’s face on the issue.
Prayer point: Father open my eyes to the needs of people around me and give me the heart to sincerely seek for the solution to them in Jesus name.
Bro. Biodun Oyapero