The secret to greatness

Matthew 20:26
In politics, the paths to success and significance are paved with the right contacts, the right connections, and the right contributions. In Nairobi that is my hometown for the past 20 years, a series of investigations and indictments have unearthed the seamier side of this cycle--political favors and premium jobs doled out in exchange for campaign funds and other perks. Sadly, the common defense in most of these cases is, “That’s just politics. It’s how things are done.” As one comedian aptly put it, “You know it’s cold in Nairobi when the politicians have their hands in their own pockets!”
Actually, from an earth-side point of view, there may be some advantages to a “political” approach to life. Our world is all about “who you know” and “What have you done for me lately?” We are primed early on to look out for ourselves and to do whatever it takes to not miss our big break.
But if you see yourself as a follower of Christ, that kind of thinking bears little resemblance to His life and teaching. Take for instance the encounter that Jesus had with two of His most committed disciples. An encounter that only goes to prove that even the best of us can still have those political instincts alive and well deep inside.
James and John grab for the brass ring as they try to cash in on some relational capital. Matthew 20:21 suggests that James and John may have convinced their mother to petition Jesus for some plumb cabinet positions in the new kingdom: “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.” Wow, what a bold request! But if you don’t stick up for yourself, who will?
What were these guys thinking? Probably the same kinds of thoughts that cross our minds as we think about our role in Jesus’ plan. “I’m sure I could be doing that job much better than that person. When is God going to entrust that kind of position to me?” “Serve as an usher? No thanks, but don’t forget to call me when that elder position is open.”
“I’m really bummed that I have done all of this and no one has even offered a word of thanks.”
“If I’m nice to him I can leverage our relationship to get ahead.” “We’ve had them over for dinner twice, and they have never included us in anything!”
Sound familiar? Sadly, I don’t think I’m alone in battling the inborn desire to be noticed, to be affirmed and to feel significant. Scripture records that the other disciples were visibly ticked at James and John’s request—probably because they had beaten them to the punch and used their mother in the process. Talk about unfair leveraging of relationships!
The cure for this disease of “Hey! How about me” self-promotionitis is found in the response of Christ when He said, “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant” (Matt. 20:26).
A servant? The one who quietly and humbly submits to and serves the desires of others regardless of personal recognition? Doesn’t sound like the politician’s path to greatness or the world’s path to significance, does it?
But it’s the path Jesus took. Before going all the way to the cross He told His disciples, “the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Matt. 20:28). If we’re striving to be like Him, no task is beneath us, no person is below us, and no legitimate sacrifice is too great. From Jesus’ point of view, servanthood is the path to significance. As a friend of mine says, “In the kingdom, the way up is down!”
Let’s drop the old “What will others do for me?” routine and get on with serving others as Jesus served us.

SERVANTHOOD-The mark of greatness!

Christian servanthood is given to us by example throughout the entire Bible revealing a wonderful lifestyle filled with blessings and opportunities to see lives changed as never seen before. Living out our perception of how Christ lived, as a servant to others, is the ultimate example after which we ought to fashion our lives. When we figure out what it means to lead by serving, this is when we truly understand what servanthood was meant to be.

We have been shown how to lead by people who gave examples of serving throughout many different generations and in many ways. Servanthood in the Bible is shown through numerous examples of both women and men, both in the Bible and in the church's history; people such as Dorcas who sewed garments for the poor, and Martha who served almost to a fault, or Paul who gave an entire life in service spreading the gospel of Christ whom He met years after He had ascended to Heaven. These and many others showed what it meant to do good deeds of kindness, sacrificing personal time and resources for others without ever expecting to be repaid. But it all started with the life of Christ - the one who has shown us the meaning of a true servant. Jesus took the form of a servant, while proclaiming the status as the Son of God the whole time, choosing to serve rather than be served. This is the example that we ought to live our lives after; the embodiment of Christian servanthood. When He washed the disciples feet, we saw what a Christian attitude is supposed to be - humbling oneself, disregarding status, and meeting the immediate needs of others. When Christ would show up at tax collectors homes or take the day to spend with unlovely or undesirable people, we saw the Christian example we are to embody in action.

The beautiful thing about Christ is His leading by example and showing the true life of servanthood. Servanthood in the Bible meant putting others before oneself no matter what. At no time did Christ proclaim himself better than anyone else, although on every occasion the heart of Christ showed others what is meant to truly 'love'. No one could deny that the servanthood of Jesus because they saw it every day. Our lives can become much more meaningful and with purpose if we are willing to give our whole selves to the service of the Lord without looking back. Only then can we truly experience the abundant life God has for us. For more insight into God's plan for us, visit these Bible resources.

This godly lifestyle must be considered as something incredibly important. Christian servanthood can manifest itself in our daily lives if we are willing to lead by serving. We must show others the example shown us in the Bible and how it can be lived out in today's world. When we become godly servants, we must look past ourselves and see only the Lord. Our focus must be in the right place. Only then can we truly experience what the Lord has for us in serving.

We need to look at the Lord to see where we are being led us as we seek to live such a life. Only when we get our focus correctly, will we be able to see who He is with a greater understanding. He will show us how to completely deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow him. When we do that, he will lead us to a place of peace and contentment in any circumstance. The Lord can show us what we need to see by His Spirit, who will provide the understanding of who he is and how we can use our personal spiritual and physical gifts so we can more effectively serve others. We can do small things of serving others by simple things such as taking time to speak to or provide them with a meal. Sometimes giving someone time to talk and be listened to or even just sitting with them are some of the greatest ways that we can honor the Lord by serving.

Christ is the best example of demonstrating Christian servanthood the way it is meant to be in God's eyes. Being a true servant is seeing people as opportunity for a relationship rather than just as needy people we walk by every day. Being able to see them with Christ's eyes will show them His presence within the depths of our hearts. Serving others is one of the most effective ways to lead them to the Lord. Many forget or ignore this command of the Christian life, but it is best to show others Christ through actions rather than words. "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who...made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant" (Philippians 2:3-5,7).

THE HEART OF A SERVANT LEADER

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THE HEART OF A SERVANT LEADER

The bible exhorts us to gird our hearts with all diligence, for it is out of it that the issues of life flow (Prov 4: 23). Whether you are talking about jealousy, hatred insecurity or malice, they all spring from the heart. There is no doubt then that the heart is what makes a leader. Our character is normally formed by what we allow in our hearts, if you allow negative things about people in your heart the next thing that automatically happens is that you begin resenting those people.

The bible says that God searches the reins and the heart, though men look at the outside but our God looks at the heart. That is why when it came to appointing a leader for Israel men went for looks and chose Saul- he was quite outstanding, but when Gods turn came, he chose a young ruddy boy that had been even rejected by His own father .He had been relegated to taking care of the sheep-very unlikely, there was nothing about him that made him look like he could amount to any leadership position, yet God says ‘ He is man after my own heart’.

It is important for us to realize that God looks at the heart in any leader before endorsing him for any leader ship position, I mean consider Esau and Jacob, the bible says that Esau had all the looks for greatness –hairy and a man of the fields in addition to this he was a cunning hunter -no wonder his father loved him, he was his symbol of success, he was one of those kids that parents are normally proud of, Jacob on the other hand was, weak, smooth, and timid (mamas boy always in the tents) that out of a mothers love for a child, you know mothers don’t always have a choice when it comes to loving their kids, whether the kid turns out to be a criminal or a junkie a mother will still love her child, no wonder when God wants to refer us to his unconditional love He refers us to the love of a mother.
Any way someone who didn’t love him because of what he had or was but one that loved unconditionally just like our God has loved all of us unconditionally loved Jacob.

Despite Esau’s qualification, even before he could prove himself in life God says “Jacob have I loved but Esau I have hated.”
Friends it is all about the heart, God is not moved by being exceptionally gifted, your background or qualifications, He is moved by what is in your heart, He says, “I will desire mercy and not sacrifice”.
I have been studying God’s choice of a leader and it still amazes me. It is not that God looks for the perfect, for if you consider the above examples you will realize that the people God chose were still human beings and part from their insufficiencies they had human frailties, they were weak people, Jacob was a liar, David had a weakness for women, I mean if it is talking about perfect, they were imperfect, but the bible says, that God has chosen the weak things of this life to shame the wise. We need to realize that God is looking for people who are pure in heart, people who are broken in spirit, people who have a contrite spirit.

Our heart is the well spring of life, when we contain things like insecurities, hatred, being inhuman, not being considerate to other people, choosing who to love…it is such little things that reveal what is hidden in our hearts. God normally looks for how we react to small things; it speaks volumes on what is stored in our hearts. Saul was a man full of insecurities, he couldn’t allow other people that God was raising under him to grow, he chased after David with the intention to take his life, as a leader, are you insecure in your position that you have been unable to multiply yourself? Insecurity is a bad thing because as you refuse to help other people Grow that God has placed under you, God will still raise them any way. Esau on the other hand was a very selfish person, He could do anything to get what he wanted, I mean look here he is asked for his father to get something in order to get His blessings and the worst part about his story is that he didn’t even consider his young brother, Jacob, he wanted the blessings only to himself. God hated him right from the womb, he always wanted to be first, even coming out of the mothers’ womb, he strode past his brother, God hates people who only think about themselves. As God is raising you into a leader, please allow him to do a deeper work in your heart, let him give you a servant’s heart. May God hold this testimony about you that, you are man after his own heart, man who is moved by what moves him!

If you consider our leaders today, God is looking for unselfish leaders who are not preoccupied with their own interests but the interest of other people as well. For instance our country of Kenya has on several occasions been a victim of greedy leaders, we have had enough scandals that have fleeced a once magnificent country, It is very had in our African countries to find faultless political leaders who have an impeccable record, leaders who can stir our nations to posterity, but I believe that God is about to bring to notoriety, leaders after his own heart that He has been preparing in secret.

We also need today spiritual leaders in Africa who would rather have God than have anything. As God is bringing the continent to a place of prominence spiritually, he is about to reveal leaders who have the character of Christ embedded in their being. Leaders with a servant’s heart

Rediscovering the pearl of servanthood

In Luke 22:27, which takes place during the Last Supper on the night in which He was betrayed, Jesus starts by stating what would be accepted at true in both Greek and Jewish cultures. He sets up a dinnertime situation, and asks, who ranks greater, one who sits at table, or one who serves? Then he answers that it is one who sits at the table. So far, so typical. But it would be unlike Jesus not to turn those tables: "But I am among you as one who serves." Jesus is talking about more than being a waiter, though, and is not content with mere talk. He takes on the smellier, uglier task of washing feet. The host cleans, gives manual services of labor, and becomes someone to literally look down upon. The Authority serves. This is not at all the only example of Jesus' Servant-God approach, but it is the most direct. The hub of this way of seeing life is found in John's account of that same night, when Jesus calls on His disciples to love each other as He does.

Why is service so central to Christian belief? Because we follow a God who serves. Do we dare hold ourselves to be greater than God, and hold that what God does is too menial or dirty? Even more, we follow a Christ who loves others. Dare we spurn those whom God treasures? Apparently, we do dare, because we do it. We fail to serve, to care enough about someone else to act in their favor. It's not as if servanthood is hard. You can do it. It doesn't take a God to pull it off. But then again, maybe it does in a way, for Jesus wasn't out for self-this and self-that, but rather others-this and others-that, and was able to pull it off. God wants to work through you. Maybe we have to rely on Jesus' character growing in us, as it brings out the fruit of the Spirit, and focuses us on doing right by others.

Servants aren't posers. They know they're not superstars. That helps others see that they too are just people. They can be held accountable, because they're not trying to be crafty and aren't into c.y.a.. A servant of Christ chooses to be like Christ and serve others. They do it in whatever way is needed, but prefer doing it in person. They see freedom not as a great way of doing something for themselves, but as the freedom to do what's needed to lift someone else who needs it. They forgive those who do them wrong, since God forgave them in Jesus. Most of all, the servant is actually looking for helpful ways to serve, to give, and to build up. They're glad to do it. The Spirit gives Christ's servants gifts so they can build each other up.

The question that separates the wise from the wimps in spirituality is how to serve others, especially those others who are dealt the worst of hands by our society. It's where most people's spirituality (Christian or otherwise) turns tail and runs. No turning tail here : the writers teach us big-time lessons in real compassion.
More on teaching your children to serve.

Senator's potrayal of servanthood

with the arrival of senator Barrack Obama in kenya.His 15 day trip to africa may not be monumental but i tend to think that right here in kenya it has been of great significance.Not only because kenya is belived to be the country of his father's roots but also because of his ideologies.His coming to kenya has been highlighted with alot of expectancy and has caught the atention of people from all sectors.All the media outlets in the country have been filled with stories that have been centering upon the senator's trip.I was particularly amused yesterday when i ws going through one of the local dailies on one of the columns and this is what it said"...if your ancestors were born near the lake Victoria and you have not booked a room for a weekend in kisumu city/( a town on the western region of kenya where it particularly Senators father hails from) then you are a bicupili-ugandan's slang for fake."

The writer continued to say that a true descendant of the lake could not afford to be dancing ohangla -traditional dance for the luo community in kenya- in nairobi while the regions most prominent son touched base with his roots.

However since iam not from the lake region, none of this really caught my attention. The only thing that aroused my interest in this purpoted son of the lake was his seeming servanthood spirit.I read again -somewhere else- that when one American journalist asked this son of the lake-rather arrogantly, according to the writer- why he was heading to Africa. the son of the lake frankly stated "Because Africa matters!"
Right there the son of the lake made a mark on my servanthood scoring board. our world today needs leaders who will be willing to go beyond their comfort zones and reach out to other peolple selflessly.

Phil 2;3. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.ech one of you should look not only to your own interests , but also to the interest of others.

To many people, senator Obama's Africa visit may spell a different meaning but i particularly see his visit as a definition of selflessnes in servanthood in a leader.my prayer is that we will have many more leaders that can emulate him and realize that all human beings on the face of the earth matters!

servant leaders

A few days ago i was in one bookstore,I happened to meet with the bookstore owner and asked for her opinion as a bookseller on the subject of servanthood.This is what she told me "people don't want to be servants they want to be leaders..."

Right there she got me thinking..could this be the reason alot of us are missing it out in leadership?Alot of people are getting into leadership with a wrong notion.the notion of power.Most people's underlying motive of ascending to positions is so that the may look powerful.

If at all there are by any chance people out there who share the same opinion with my boostore friend then we have very reason to be alarmed.Recently right here in kenya we had by elections for parliamentary seats.It was quite a suprise to see many of the emerging winners being young people.my prayer is that unlike the kind of leaders we have been having in Africa ,this new breed of leaders will be different and will adopt the principle of servant leadership.
Africa as we know it has been known to breed bad leaders who are obssessed with power that they end up abusing.But iam sensing a fresh wind of change blowing all over africa and soon we are going to have leaders who have the people's interest at heart.leaders who will not be comfortable in looting public funds to fill their garage with expensive vehicles while majority of the people they serve cannot even afford a proper meal and live blow a dollar a day.May God raise leaders in Africa who will not be insecure...leaders who will not clinch to power and use all means possible to mantain certain positions.This is why exactly i beleive that the new breed of leaders God is preparing in Africa need to read the book "REDISCOVERING THE PEARL OF SERVANTHOOD"

servant hood

There are alot of changes that are taking place in our world today and i belive that the changes i have been seeing right here in kenya are happening everywhere...the blue tooth , the ipod, itunes etc ...there is just alot to learn in our todays world..however as somethings keep changing there are somethings that will just never change,alot of principles always remain the same.i mean the fact that we are living in the era filled with great electronical gadget explosion does not negate the fact that we still have the force of gravity and that if you climbed a tree and and jumped from it you wont fall.
This is exactly why i believe that the principle of servant hood that our lord jesus christ taught is still important for any generation.Our todays generation needs to learn that to make it to the top you must begin at the bottom.there is no short cut for greatness.greatness has a price tag called servanthood-For this reason i belive that the new book i have written is going to be an invaluable manual for both practicing and aspiring leaders:Rediscovering the Pearl of Servanthood