Answer: Leaders among God's people must be
servants, and must be slaves of all, (verse 43).
MORE INFORMATION AND/OR OTHER SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:
Since all Christians are to be characterized by humble and
loving service, this would naturally include the leaders of
God's people, who are chosen from among them. Consider
the following Scriptures about servants (good and bad), how we
should serve, Who we should use as our example (pattern, mold),
attitudes of true servants, Who we serve and the rewards of service
to the servant:
Job 1:8: "Then the Lord said to
Satan, 'Have you considered My servant Job? There is no one
on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God
and shuns evil.'"
Malachi 3:16-18: "Then those who
feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and
heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in His presence
concerning those who feared the Lord and honored His Name.
'They will be Mine,' says the Lord Almighty, 'in
the day when I make up My treasured possession. I will spare them,
just as in compassion a man spares his son who serves him.
And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and
the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do
not.'"
Matthew 10:24-25a: [Jesus said,] "A
student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his
master. It is enough for the student to be like his teacher,
and the servant like his master...."
Matthew 23:1-12: "Then Jesus said
to the crowds and to His disciples: 'The teachers of
the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. So you must
obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they
do, for they do not practice what they preach. They tie up
heavy loads and put them on men's shoulders, but they themselves
are not willing to lift a finger to move them. Everything
they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries wide
and the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of
honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues;
they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call
them "Rabbi." But you are not to be called
"Rabbi," for you have only One Master and you are all
brothers. And do not call anyone on earth
"father," for you have One Father, and He is in
heaven. Nor are you to be called "teacher," for
you have One Teacher, the Christ. The greatest among you will
be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled,
and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.'"
Matthew 25:23, 30: [Jesus said,]
"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful
servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you
in charge of many things. Come and share your master's
happiness!...And throw that worthless servant outside, into the
darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of
teeth.'"
Mark 9:33-35: "They came to
Capernaum. When He was in the house, He asked them, 'What
were you arguing about on the road?' But they kept
quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the
greatest. Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said,
'If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and
the servant of all.'"
Luke 4:8: "Jesus answered,
'It is written: "Worship the Lord your God and serve
Him only."'"
Luke 16:13: [Jesus said,] "No
servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love
the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.
You cannot serve both God and Money."
Luke 17:7-10: "Suppose one of you
had a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Would he say to
the servant when he comes in from the field, 'Come along now
and sit down to eat'? Would he not rather say, 'Prepare
my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink;
after that you may eat and drink'? Would he thank the
servant because he did what he was told to do? So you also,
when you have done everything you were told to do, should say,
'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our
duty.'"
Luke 22:24-27: "Also a dispute
arose among them [the apostles] as to which of them was considered
to be greatest. Jesus said to them, 'The kings of the
Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over
them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like
that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest,
and the one who rules like the one who serves. For who is
greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it
not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as One Who
serves.'"
John 12:25-26: [Jesus said,] "The
man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his
life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever
serves Me must follow Me; and where I am, My servant also will be.
My Father will honor the one who serves Me."
John 15:20a: [Jesus said,]
"Remember the Words I spoke to you: 'No servant is
greater than his master.'"
Acts 20:19: "I [Paul] served the
Lord with great humility and with tears, although I was severely
tested by the plots of the Jews."
Romans 12:9-12: "Love must be
sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted
to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above
yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual
fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in
affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who
are in need. Practice hospitality."
Galatians 5:13: "You, my brothers,
were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the
sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love."
Ephesians 6:5-9: "Slaves, obey your
earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart,
just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win
their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ,
doing the Will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly,
as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the
Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is
slave or free. And masters, treat your slaves in the same
way. Do not threaten them, since you know that He Who is both their
Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with
Him."
Philippians 2:1-12: "If you have
any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort
from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness
and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded,
having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do
nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility
consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should
look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of
others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ
Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider
equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself
nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human
likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled
Himself and became obedient to death--even death on a
cross! Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and
gave Him the Name that is above every name, that at the Name of
Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the
earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the
glory of God the Father. Therefore, my dear friends, as you
have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more
in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear
and trembling, for it is God Who works in you to will and to act
according to His good purpose."
Colossians 3:12-14: "Therefore, as
God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with
compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear
with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have
against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And
over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together
in perfect unity."
Colossians 3:22-24: "Slaves, obey
your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their
eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart
and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all
your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know
that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It
is the Lord Christ you are serving."
2 Timothy 2:24: "And the Lord's servant
must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to
teach, not resentful."
Titus 3:1-2: "Remind the people to
be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready
to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and
considerate, and to show true humility toward all
men."
James 3:13-18: "Who is wise and
understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds
done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you
harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not
boast about it or deny the truth. Such 'wisdom'
does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the
devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there
you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom
that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving,
considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial
and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of
righteousness."
1 Peter 4:10-11: "Each one should
use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully
administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone
speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very Words of God. If
anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so
that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To Him
be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen."
1 Peter 5:1-3: "To the elders among
you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ's sufferings
and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be
shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as
overseers--not because you must, but because you are willing,
as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve;
not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to
the flock."
1 Peter 5:5-6: "Young men, in the
same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe
yourselves with humility toward one another, because, 'God
opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.'
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that He may
lift you up in due time."
Revelation 1:4-6: "John, To the
seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to
you from Him Who is, and Who was, and Who is to come, and from the
seven spirits before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, Who is the
faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the
kings of the earth. To Him Who loves us and has freed us from
our sins by His blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests
to serve His God and Father--to Him be glory and power for
ever and ever! Amen."
Revelation 22:8-9: "I, John, am the
one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen
them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been
showing them to me. But he said to me, 'Do not do it! I am a
fellow servant with you and with your brothers the prophets and of
all who keep the Words of this book. Worship
God!'"
