In this passage, Jesus teaches us that we should not desire
authority or power for its own sake or for lording it over others.
If we are honest, it can feel good to be in a position of
power. I have heard a phrase in the context of military preparedness “the enemy
gets a vote.” This is true in other areas. So often in life we only have a
small vote in what happens to us. We can control our attitude and actions, but
little else. In turn, this can lead us to despair and frustration. Circumstances
outside of our control influence us profoundly. Our employer could suddenly lay
us off, the economy could tank, there could be a scandal rending the church.
So, we think if only we could get ourselves into positions of power and
authority, we could control more of our own destiny. Perhaps not everything. But
at least we would not be as helpless. If we had authority, we could get more of
what we want. Usually, this is an illusion. At best, it is temporary and
fleeting. Heavy is the head that wears the crown.
The quest for control is regressive, we get domain over one
thing and realize three other things now have domain over us. Wealth is a
common example here. We want money so we can free ourselves from worry, only to
realize that once we become a millionaire, we have more responsibility. More
swindlers come knocking. There are taxes, lawsuits, inflation, investments,
estate planning, and so forth. Then of course the million is not enough. We
would solve all these problems with a billion. But the issues magnify. It is
the same thing with political power. Treachery, more people gunning for you, more
issues of concern. In the end, when we pursue power and authority for their own
sake or for the sake of ourselves, the things you realize you cannot control
simply multiply and magnify themselves. Of course, in attaining all this
power and control, we have scant time for worship, prayer, family, and the
smelling of roses. With acquisitiveness comes a turning in on the self and away
from God.
All of what I have said here seems like a set of platitudes
that can be rationalized away because “it will be different for me.” How many
times have you said that to yourself? This has been a crushing question
for me. It’s a ‘gut check’.
As He so often does, Jesus gives what seems counterintuitive
instruction. “Whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant…The
Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve…” Against the grain of our
nature, the key to living in the will of God, and therefore true happiness,
peace, and harmony, is not to seek power and lordship over others. We must look
to serve others. To imitate the Lord Jesus.
Jesus is not telling us to unequivocally avoid a position of
leadership or to never have authority over others. The big question is why we
want these things. Do we really want to serve? Do we want to live out the
vocation God has for us? Is it possible for us to walk humbly with God and love
our fellow man in a certain role or with a set of responsibilities? To be sure,
this is a tough balance to strike. If we follow the example of Christ, we can
say ‘yes’ we want to serve. We can say ‘yes’, to walking humbly with God.
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