There is a very important area in our lives that God deals with before fully releasing us into ministry. It is called “the motive factor.” Many people want to enter ministry only for what they can get out of it rather than to please God. Yet God allows situations and circumstances to arise that expose your true motivation. A good example of someone serving with wrong motives was Elisha’s servant. He was faced with a situation that exposed avarice and greed that had been hiding within his heart.
“But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said,
‘Look, my master has spared Naaman this Syrian, while not
receiving from his hands what he brought; but as the LORD
lives, I will run after him and take something from him.”— 2 Kings 5:20
The Bible clearly instructs us to be very careful concerning money (1 Timothy 6:10). If we are not careful, we can allow greed to darken our hearts, thus rendering us useless in ministry. God will challenge each of His leaders to see the true motivation of his or her heart, and will create opportunities to purify wrong motives.
We also must be very careful about titles or status. An important title does not come with automatic prestige, respect and honor. It simply does NOT. I learned this many years ago.
For many years I had desired a certain position. I dutifully studied and prepared myself for this position, which carried with it a considerable amount of responsibility. I was finally promoted and was excited about it. The board of directors met with me and gave me specific instructions as to how they expected the employees to handle their day-to-day job functions. Naturally, I fulfilled their wishes with due diligence.
Almost immediately, I noticed that the employees were upset about my implementing the board’s desires. And soon after, they filed a complaint against me to the board of directors. I was astonished when the board instructed me to back off. They told me I was being “too tough.” I did not understand, since it was their instructions that I had been implementing. I was only expressing what they said they wanted in the first place. I was so confused that I asked for a meeting with the board president.
I began by informing him that the board was “cutting off my legs” by reprimanding me. I explained that it was wrong to give me specific instructions, and then to accept the employee’s complaints and cause my orders to be overturned. I also told him that the board of directors was creating bad habits among the leadership. I believed I was presenting a good argument so I finalized my statements by indicating that I was not getting any respect as a leader.
Much to my surprise, the board president sat there and laughed at me. After he finished enjoying the moment he proceeded to teach me a very important principle. This gracious gentleman told me, “You simply cannot demand respect.” He taught me that respect must be earned by serving those who were under me. In order to earn the respect of the employees, I had to show them that I cared for them and that I was interested in their well-being. He instructed me to make an effort to search out their strong points and to praise them for those. This lesson taught me that when people see how much you care for them as their leader, they will graciously follow your lead. Gaining a title or high position does not mean that people are going to automatically follow you.
From that day forward I have used what I learned from that great man and I make sure that I do not lord over the ones God has placed under my leadership. I take the time to find out their strengths and weaknesses, and I look for opportunities to help them, even in their personal lives.
There are many ways that you can let people see you care. Find out their birthdays and anniversaries and send them a card. Find out the names of their children and give them a gift. You will be surprised what these simple actions will do for those you lead. You can also find out what their goals are and help them begin to fulfill those goals. Solicit their ideas about how to better accomplish their jobs. Many employees are sitting on incredible ideas that can save the company or ministry money and time. When you ask them for ideas and input, do not ignore them. Utilize them and give those who offered these ideas credit for them. It really shows that you take them seriously and that you care for them.
If you are someone who is currently serving alongside a leader, I caution you to be very careful never to allow an inordinate desire for a title or power to eclipse your motive as a servant leader. True leadership serves with respect, dignity and love. Remember that each of us as believers, serve under the Lord of lords and King of kings, and He modeled to us what true leadership is in the following verses:
“When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. ‘Do you understand what I have done for you?’ he asked them. ‘You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord’, and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.’”— John 13:12-17
You must recognize that wherever you serve and in whatever capacity, God will test your true motives to see that they conform to the above referenced principle. Only then will God promote you to higher levels of leadership, which encompasses increased opportunities to serve more people and to more closely model true servant-leadership.
Applying wisdom to everyday life for extraordinary results,
Victor Nazario
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