Leadership 301-The Heart of The Servant

LEADERSHIP 301
The Heart Of The Servant
A message by Rev Dr Stanley Lim on 21 September 2008

Introduction:
The Lord Jesus visited the home of Martha & Mary and was immediately given a warm reception. Here in this incident we are told of the response of the two sisters. Martha, welcomed the Lord, while Mary sat at the feet of Jesus and heard His Word. However, we are further informed that Martha became busy with much serving. In the midst of her busyness, she realized that Mary was not helping her and complained to the Lord about Mary’s passivity. Jesus’ response was one that amazed Martha because He did not reprimand Mary but instead revealed the contents of Martha’s heart & mind and redirected her to the core issue of servanthood.

Jesus’ answer to Martha pointedly gives the distinction of the world’s understanding of leadership and the view that Christ modeled. To many people today, the leadership of a person is revealed by the many things that he does or accomplishes. But for Christ, it is the ‘becoming’ ie. the process by which he undergoes transformation from his old life to his new experience that determines his grade in leadership.

From this passage we are challenged by the Lord Jesus to revisit the way we look for leaders and servants in His house.

I. We must look for the heart of a servant who worships
The posture that Mary displayed during the visitation of Jesus caught His attention. The scripture recorded, “ Mary sat at Jesus’ feet”. To be seated at the feet of someone, in the custom and culture of the New Testament, reveals lowliness and humility. For a Christian leader to effectively serve the Lord, he/she must be found in a posture of humility. The act of worship is the acknowledgment of God as our Creator and the Sustainer of Life. To worship Him is to say that we are in total dependency upon His grace & mercy. If we can acknowledge that we need Him in everything that we do, then that is truly worship.

II. We must look for the heart of a servant who is devoted to the Word
Mary further demonstrated humility when it was recorded she “heard His word”. She bent herself low to receive the word. When a Christian worships the Lord with humility and allows the word to motivate his doings, he is on safe grounds.

John 1:1-4: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made thro’ Him and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.”

The word was the sustenance of the leader/servant. The word gives us our meaning & purpose of existence. The word brings oneness and unity to our vision and goals in life. The word shapes our attitudes and changes our way of thinking to conform to that of Christ.

Phil. 4:8,9 – “Brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things. The things which you learned and receive and heard and saw in me, these do and the God of peace will be with you.”

III. We must look for the heart of a servant who understands the meaning of contentment
Jesus said to Martha, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things.” Jesus was addressing the issue of contentment. The Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary defines contentment as “a feeling of happiness and satisfaction.” Contentment can be understood as an emotional manifestation reflecting the inward state of an individual.

1 Tim. 6:6-10 – “Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptations and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness and pierced themselves with many sorrows.”

Paul was writing to young novice, Timothy, to beware of persons who teaches that having plenty in this life is the right thing and is considered blessed. Paul describes the Christian’s contentment as a process that God is working within the believer to produce a deep sense of having enough of everything. The reasons for contentment as outlined by Paul are as follows: -
1.) Vs. 7 – Why put all your heart and soul to concentrate on that which is temporal? (For we brought nothing into this world and it is certain that we can bring nothing out.)
2.) Vs. 8 – Contentment requires the minimum for its sustenance ie. Food and clothing. Both are the subject of God’s assurances. (And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.)
3.) Vs. 9 – If we are not contented, then we will become victims of covetousness. Covetousness has tragic results. Relationships, innocent lives, families and even nations have been destroyed because of covetousness.
4.) Vs. 10 – If we love money more than contentment, then we open ourselves to comparisons with others that will cause us to become greedy.
Martha displayed her lack of Christian contentment, when she compared her service with that of Mary’s. Christ in commenting, “Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” Christian contentment will be clothed with God’s peace that frees us from inner struggles and worries.

Conclusion: As leaders and servants of God, let’s guard our hearts and what we allow to reside within it. Proverbs 4:23 – “ Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.”