To Lead and Serve

 DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW

TO LEAD AND SERVE

Matt 20:24-28

24 When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. 25 Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28 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." 

NIV

It is alright to desire to be great among us? Why would Jesus even bring that up? Of course, in order to be great, or mega, which is the Greek word used here, one needs to be the servant of all the rest. Although the word for servant is the same word used for deacon, that would fit in the sense the deacons were to serve the tables, or see to the distribution of food, especially to the widows. We see this in explained in acts. However, it may not be meant here as one who is a deacon, is not the greatest of positions in the church, and none of the apostles became deacons, but rather ministers of the word of God, or pastors of the church. Therefore, it would be appropriate to think that the pastor of the church is the leader, as Jesus compared the servant here to the rulers of the Gentiles. When we examine the acts of the apostles, we see the apostles were the leaders of the church and they had the people select seven men to be the servants of food distribution or deacons who were known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. This should be the first and foremost qualification for any to serve the church as deacons. However, the apostles gave themselves to the spiritual needs of the church. This would describe the pastor as the servant of the church, giving himself to the spiritual needs of the church. This would then mean anyone who desires to become the pastor of the church, should consider himself the servant of the church, not the lord and master of the church, although having the authority in the church over the spiritual matters as well as governing under the guidance of God, for the church is not a democracy, but rather a theocracy. Still, as Jesus gave himself for the church, so should the ministers of the church. This is the same application Jesus makes about the first, or the person who is primary in succession or the leader, the pastor, who must be a slave to the church. This would mean, once again, being the servant of the church, giving himself over to serve the needs of the people. However, this does not mean the people, have authority over the pastor, as no one has authority over Christ and he compares the servant or the slave to himself, as he did not come to be served but to serve, to give himself for the church. Jesus has all the authority yet served the church. Thus, even though the pastor has been given the authority by God to minister, he is also to serve. In the post-modern church where we have multiple pastors with all sorts of positions, or titles, we believe Jesus is speaking to the one pastor, the lead pastor, the senior pastor who leads the church. Of course, all the others serve in the sense as to assist the senior pastor in his function as the head authority under God. However, we could also see this as the twelve serving together as one leadership under the direction of God, while the deacons took care of the administration of the distribution of food. Hence, the team of pastors would serve as one servant of the church. This is difficult in some sense to be in charge and serve, to lead and serve. But this is the task upon whoever hears the call of God to be great among us.