How Not to be a Grand Pooh-Bah

 

“Loyal love and truth preserve a king, and his throne is upheld by loyal love.”  Proverbs 20:28

 “Because I said so!” Is this a phrase you heard often when growing up? I bet if king Xerxes had kids, that would have been his response. He, and many leaders like him, ruled by fear. He had all the power, and he wanted to make sure you knew it. I can’t help but wonder if this type of leadership is driven by fear as well though? In a desperate attempt to grasp for power and control, these leaders try to establish themselves as immovable, superior, sovereign. When it comes down to a power struggle though, these types of leaders don’t inspire loyalty. When given the chance to depose them and be in favor of the new ruler, followers will often switch sides.

 So how does one lead in a way that inspires loyalty? Our verse today shares a lot of truth, but even more telling is the example Jesus set when He walked on the earth:

 Instead of walking over people, He washed their feet (John 13:5-17). Jesus was secure enough in His position that He didn’t need to Lord it over people. If anyone was deserving of being cared for, it was Him, but instead He cared for others. He did not draw a line at subservience, but wrapped a towel around his waist and went to work. He wasn’t afraid of being seen as weak or unimportant, He was more concerned with doing His Father’s business. Let everyone else sort out what they thought of Him, that wasn’t His concern.

 He never demanded loyalty, but his followers were willing to die for Him (John 13:37). I’m reminded of a scene from Star Trek where a follower was required to hold his hand over an open flame to prove his loyalty to his leader. Jesus didn’t set up ridiculous loyalty tests or require oaths of submission from His followers. In fact, when they did declare their loyalty as Peter did in the verse I just mentioned, Jesus pointed out that he would in fact deny Him three times before the rooster crowed the next morning (John 13:38). And still, despite knowing this, Jesus would go on to die for Peter, and all of us who have failed Him in the same way.

 He was not stingy with praise, but encouraged people on the right path. It seems like some leaders think it will make them look weak if they tell people, “Good job.” Like maybe they are above that. Jesus, however, often let people know when they had done well (Matthew 8:10, Matthew 15:28, Matthew 16:17-19). He was secure in His position, in who He was and in Whose He was. From that place, He was able to bring others up, to encourage them and tell them when they had done well.

 He led by example. Jesus never said, “Do as I say, not as I do.” He always showed us what He wanted us to do by doing it Himself. From baptism (Matthew 3:15),washing the disciples’ feet (referenced above) to even laying down His own life for us (John 15:13), Jesus practiced what He preached to perfection.

 Finally, He also kept His priorities straight. He knew what He was to do and when (John 7:6). He knew who He was sent to (Matthew 15:24). He knew the importance of spending time with His Heavenly Father, even when everyone else was clamoring for His attention (Mark 1:35-37). Jesus didn’t get distracted by trying to please people or obey the whims of the crowd. He kept God as the main thing and did everything He did to glorify His Father and point people to Him.

Here's the Thing: In the story of Esther that we’ve been going through, king Xerxes shows a very different form of leadership, and it didn’t work out for him in the long run as he was assassinated by one of his trusted court officials. In contrast, Jesus’ followers have gone to incredible lengths over the years to stay true to Him and glorify God’s Name the way He did, even enduring imprisonment, torture and death. Lead like Jesus, not like Xerxes.