GREAT THINGS ENTERPRISE
CLAUDE BLACK
Mark 10:43
Servanthood Leadership
At the end of his letter to the Romans, Paul greets several friends, including Priscilla and Aquila. He calls them “my fellow workers in Christ Jesus. They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them.” (Romans 16:3-4) Like the others he mentions, they were known for serving the Lord and other believers—even at great personal risk.
Advertiser and Christian writer Bruce Barton (1886-1967), known for his book The Man Nobody Knows, which portrayed Jesus as the greatest businessman in history, wrote that an automobile company desiring the patronage of customers would crawl under their customers’ cars more often and get itself dirtier than any of its competitors. They must be prepared to offer greater service. While the clerk goes home at 5:30 p.m., the light in the chief executive’s office continues burning long into the night. His willingness to give extra service is what makes him worthy to lead the firm.
Jesus faced a crisis among his disciples when ten of them thought James and John were trying to seize exalted positions ahead of them. “And when they heard, the ten began to be indignant about James and John.” (Mark 10:41) Jesus said that was the way of power-grabbing among the Gentiles: “You know those seeming to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them and their great ones exercise power over them.” (Mark 10:42) Jesus then presented them with a new view of leadership: “But it is not so among you. But whoever desires to be great among you shall be your servant (διάκονος, diakonos, see deacon).” (Mark 10:43)
There is an old axiom that Christians advance on their knees. The Christianity that serves is the Christianity that honors the Father.
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