The Path Of Greatness: A Journey Towards Servant Leadership And HumilityExemplo

The Self Award 

As Ashok prepared to enter the company as a manager, he had deep reservations as to how he would be received by others there. He felt that his dad’s popularity in the company was never strong, and if a non-family member got some control of the business they could easily turn the organization against the family. Ashok still remembers a few years ago how his father had organized a company celebration for reaching 20 million pounds in annual revenue. Mr. Kumar had secretly arranged for his managers to honor him at the celebration. Ashok felt embarrassed and distressed when almost no one applauded for his father while they were giving him his self-assigned award. Some even shook their heads in disagreement and were promptly fired within the month. 

Ashok didn’t want to be self-propagating and self-awarding like his father. He wanted people to honor him only if they genuinely felt he was worthy of it. One of Ashok’s professors in his MBA program, Prof. Heldon, had retired the year Ashok graduated. To honor their much loved and respected professor, many of the students at the university wrote letters and lobbied online to get Prof. Heldon the nationally recognized “Educationalist of the Year” award. Prof Heldon was deeply touched by this parting gesture. Ashok felt the way the students had honored their professor was fitting. It gave Ashok inspiration to work hard for others. He desired to emulate Prof. Heldon’s attitude of service towards everyone he interacted with. 

In today’s passage Jesus noticed many Pharisees taking seats of honor and he spoke directly against this form of excess pride. He notes that if we are invited to a party we should never assume that we are important. Mr. Kumar ended up being humiliated at his own company’s celebration due to his self-recognition. Prof Heldon was honored and even given public status without ever seeking it. Jesus says, it’s better to remain humble, consider yourself lowly and then have honor put on you, like Prof. Heldon, then to be publicly shamed. 

At the core of Jesus’s words in this portion of scripture is the concept of humility: having a modest view of oneself. Our natural tendency is to show people that we are important, so they will give us recognition. Jesus is saying we should not seek any status for ourselves, in fact, we should seek a lower status, and let others recognize you, but even if we don’t get credit it’s better than being shamed. 

In the reading in the book of Philippians on Day Two we see that Jesus took the humblest possible place by becoming a man and dying. This attitude, which is the very nature of God, is the one we are asked to look to as an example. Jesus says that his followers must become servants and slaves to demonstrate greatness. He says that we must not ever assume a higher position but be content with a humble place. The calling of leadership is to follow our leader Jesus to a place of self-denying humility and service. Not to long for title or position, but rather to have the attitude of a servant in all we do. 

In order to fully live out servant leadership, we cannot simply inject servanthood into our lives. It comes from following Jesus; from focusing on his nature and allowing him to form us into his image. 

Prayer

God, I long to be formed into the image of Jesus your son, and I wish it could just be done by you. I begin to understand that you also desire this, and you wait for me to allow you to shape and transform my heart and life in this way. Today, in as much as I grasp, I ask you to work with me and in me. Help me to see where I can cooperate with you in this process of transformation, because I want to become your authentic follower - I want to live humbly and serve others.