Jesus said that the greatest among you must be a servant. What does this mean? Possibly in Jesus time it meant slave. Someone with no rights owned by another. Being a servant could be great subject matter for a sermon but what does it actually involve?
One of my friends is in a very senior leadership role in our Church with massive responsibility. I had to go to the place he lives in for a meeting a few days ago. He met me at the door where he was chatting to someone else, went with me into the house made me a cup of tea and we had a chat before our meeting. He also has responsibility to care for one of the community minibuses and regularly cleans it out. He could quite reasonable claim he is too busy and noone would object. He has the habit of a servant.
Some people (even some leaders) use serving as a strategic tool so when there is a task to be done that is "in the public eye" they will get involved but it can be the equivalent of the Pharisees giving alms or praying on street corners and maybe "they have their reward". I would be concerned about following such a leader, he may serve, sometimes, but he isn't a servant. As soon as it's not convenient or he's stressed out or feeling like he needs a break his service drops away.
I feel that there is a danger of church leaders becoming "Guru's" who have lots of wisdom but when it comes to the application of the commands of Jesus in the heart fall short. Jesus said "I am among you as one who serves", that carries a sense of continuation, of habit.
Think about the old time servant (I am sure that T.V. programmes like "Downton Abbey" have glamourised it somewhat). They work long hours, have no voice, often weary. Most of them I am sure had they the opportunity would have got out into an easier life. Jesus advocates, nay, commands that we should become servants (with all that would have involved in his day). Is that a radical solution for a church looking for advance?
