servant leaders

2 Corinthians 4:5

For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake.

As I read this verse tonight, I thought of the movie Braveheart. I remember the first time I saw it. I sat in the theatre when it was over, with tears in my eyes. I saw two types of leadership in that movie. The established leadership was self-serving, and only interested in what would benefit them personally. These were "the nobles." They would put on a show of concern for the people, but usually while cutting deals for themselves in a backroom. And then William Wallace comes on the scene. He wasn't a saint. He had personal motives. He was energized by the desire for revenge. But... he was committed to lay down his own life if necessary to accomplish his goal. His land, his people, they were oppressed and under bondage. He had a vision for freedom, and would pay any price to achieve it. He would give his very life if he had to. And he did. He gave his life.

This is what I hear from Paul. "Jesus is Lord, and I am your servant." Paul went on to describe what that kind of life looks like.

But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.

We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed;

perplexed, but not driven to despair;

persecuted, but not forsaken;

struck down, but not destroyed;

always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.

For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

So death is at work in us, but life in you.

For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

The church is desperately in need of this sort of leadership today. When you look around, most pastors look like spiritual entrepreneurs. They are building their church, and measure their success by how many people attend, and how big the offerings are. If the church is "growing" we get to build big new monuments to our success, with bigger stages and brighter spotlights. This is not a blanket indictment, but its an all too common malady. Church leadership isn't about humility and servanthood. Its about glory and honor. We hear talk about apostolic leadership, and we think of "signs and wonders." I think we need the sort of apostolic leadership we see here in Paul. We need leaders who will lay down their lives for Jesus and for those who follow Him with them.

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

He calls us to follow in His footsteps.

Help, Lord.