Mark 10:35-40 (NKJV) 35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.” 36 And He said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?” 37 They said to Him, “Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory.” 38 But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” 39 They said to Him, “We are able.” So Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism I am baptized with you will be baptized; 40 but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared.”
Some of you may be saying, “I am not a leader. I don’t think this applies to me.” However, there are two reasons you should keep reading. First, everyone leads someone. There is always someone who is watching your life and in a real sense you are leading them. The principles Jesus taught apply to all kinds of leadership. You may be a passive leader but if you are a Christian, you are a leader.
Second, we are all followers. We are all being led by someone. We need to be able to recognize whether that person is a godly leader or not. If not, we do not need to follow them. Understanding the principles of leadership as taught by Jesus will help you find the right kind of leaders for your life.
Yesterday we pointed out the fact that Jesus was the “fullness of the Godhead” bodily. That means that whatever God himself could be through the limits of flesh, Jesus was. In the area of leadership that means he is the best leader who ever lived. In Colossians 2:8-10 Paul tells us that when we look to other examples we are limiting ourselves to natural wisdom. What did the greatest leader of all time teach about leadership?
The scripture above is a very familiar story. Two young men came to Jesus and asked him a question. They request that they be allowed to sit on the right and left hand of Jesus when he comes into his kingdom. The context of this question is that Jesus has just told them again that he will be going to Jerusalem to die. Some of the disciples did not understand and some simply did not accept that this would happen. I believe James and John did.
Their request was not from a bad motivation. They were telling Jesus they intended to die with him and when they did they wanted to be at his right and left hand. It is possible that they were thinking of a natural kingdom in which they would rule with Jesus, but I do not think that is the case. There was a problem with their request, however.
Jesus asks them if they can endure what he must endure. Their answer is yes. Jesus did not rebuke them. Instead he indicates that they will “drink the cup that I drink and be baptized with my baptism.” In affect he is saying that they have what it takes to fill the requested position. His next words are very important to what it takes to be a great leader.
Jesus tells James and John that the position of sitting on his right and left hand is not his to give. It must go to the ones for whom God has prepared it. There was nothing wrong with James and John’s request to do something significant in the Kingdom of God. The problem was that they requested and focused upon a position.
Later we find that the rest of the disciples were angry with James and John. Why was that so? It was not because they wanted to do something great for Jesus. It was that they wanted a position. Whenever we focus on position it produces strife. Our desire for a position automatically puts us at odds with other believers. If I think I deserve a position that means I think I am better than someone else. That is a selfish point of view and Christianity does not work in selfishness.
Jesus reveals something here that can and should free us from focusing on position. You may believe you are called to be a pastor, the main worship leader or some other position in the body of Christ. That may be so, but we must recognize that God has prepared someone for every positon. If you are the one he has prepared for that place, trust him to get you there.
If you are not the one, you will not be effective and you will not be happy or at peace if you get it. There are many people who have gotten positions the wrong way. They have not been a blessing to others or to themselves. People in the wrong position have caused a great deal of trouble in the body of Christ.
Jesus, in his flesh, was not authorized to give this position. We often focus on men. I have had many people accuse me of holding them back. They wanted a position. They believed they deserved it and they believed I was withholding it from them or giving it to someone who did not deserve it. They failed to realize that my whole desire is to see everyone in the church full the place God has for them. They also failed to realize that it was not really up to me. It was up to God!
I know it seems that the earthly leader has the power to withhold or give positions. To a degree this is true. If you are under a leader who has displayed characteristics that you cannot trust, you are not bound to stay under him or her. You can leave. I would suggest you talk to them first and see if there is a reason you have not been given position or if there is something you can do to be ready for a position. In the end it is your prerogative to find someplace with leaders you can trust. I have given this advice to many as they sat in my office.
That said, I am amazed at how weak most people think God is. God has a position prepared for you. No one can keep you from that position. If you focus on obeying God, cultivating your Christian life and your relationship with him, you will end up where you belong. God will get you there. If he has to change those leading you, he can do that. If they will not change, he will change them or move you. The problem usually is not the leader we are under it is our lack of trust in the Lord of the church
God has a place just for you. You will probably go through many positions before you get there. You will do and go through many things that God will use to prepare you for that position. If you focus on him and not position you will get there. If you focus on the position you will never be a great leader in the Kingdom of God. A focus on position will always cause strife and it will drive you to do things to get the position in ways that do not befit a Godly leader.
I pastored for 38 years. In that time, I started 3 churches. The first two were learning experiences for me. I made many mistakes not the least of which was too great a focus on the position. By the time I started my last church, I had learned many things. I had also come into relationship with some quality senior men who became my examples of real Godly leadership.
In that place everything was different. My focus was on the people God gave me not the position. In almost 30 years, people have come and gone but we never had a split. My leadership was never really challenged. I was secure in my position because I knew God had given it to me. I did not stand up and declare, “I am the pastor here!” I never needed to. I was in the position God had prepared for me and no one could take it from me.
God wants to give you the place he created for you more than you want to have it. No one can fill it but you. On the other hand, you cannot fill a place prepared for someone else. Forget about position. Do not desire to be an apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor or teacher. Do not focus on any office or job. There is a better way. Jesus tells us how to become great leaders. We will look at his path to Godly leadership tomorrow.
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