Entrusted - The Rise of Servant Leaders

Russell Wyatt

Entrusted • Sermon • Submitted 3 years ago

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Entrusted — The Rise of Servant Leaders

Introduction

Today we are transitioning into a new series called Entrusted.

I say transitioning because we are coming out of a similar series. Stewardship is about management, which is a form of service to a master. The master entrusts the steward with things, and he is supposed to take care of them. We are going to continue the thought of that type of responsibility to the work that God calls us to in this series, but with a different perspective.

What I want from this series is for us as a congregation to see what we have been entrusted with. I want us to see the responsibility that has been given to us and the need for every single person here.

You are needed here at Riggs. Everyone can and does contribute in some form or fashion to this part of the body.

Maybe its teaching a class, inviting a friend, or just making a phone call or text. Each little contribution matters. And we want you to know that.

And when we realize how much faithful service means to the body, how even though it is not always easy to answer the call, then perhaps we will realize how much God trusts in us to care for each other and the world!

This is one of the many important ways we show our Love for each other and our love for God. With the rise of servants. And the leadership that stems from that very service.

The title of this particular sermon is “The Rise of Servant Leaders.” And it is titled that way because of the idea behind servanthood seems counter-productive to leadership. How can a leader be a servant? The answer is — be like Christ.

Our text we are going to examine for this comes from Matthew 23:1-12. You might call this a type of text where we will learn from a bad example. Let’s dive in.

Matthew 23:1-12

Matthew 23:1–12 NKJV

Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’ But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.

Read Text

We find ourselves in a text where Jesus had been dealing with teaching large crowds and having the leaders of the day coming and asking him questions, trying to get him stuck in traps, and attacking Christ.

Christ now turns on the offensive with this group. The text says he was speaking to “Crowds” and “disciples”. Thus these words may have used some as an example that all of them would understand, but were meant to teach them a lesson using that example.

He then exposes the hypocrisy of the current religious leaders. It’s no wonder they hated him.

Remember a few things that Christ had said during his ministry.

Matthew 5:20

Matthew 5:20 NKJV

For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

Perhaps this felt like a daunting task to some. But when he shows how shallow their religion is and void of faith, then you know that their holiness is like that of a whitewashed tomb or a bowl that is clean on the outside but filthy on the inside.

This public exposure helps us to understand the need for humility in all of this. And it helps clarify some of the emphasis of Jesus’ teaching.

For example, Christ shows just because they separated themselves from the unholy parts of society, because they sat in the high places, because they looked really nice. Don’t observe everything they do and try to be like them.

Why?

They lacked certain qualities obviously that were imperative to good leadership of the day. Let’s take a look at these qualities and see how they are important for all people who want to “inherit the kingdom of heaven” and have their righteousness exceed that of the pharisees. These qualities are necessary for us...

Recognition

Recognition is a tough one. We all love it. There aren’t many people who don’t like credit for the hard work that they do. Not everybody wants it, but most like it.

I am not against recognition. In fact, I’m very pro-recognition. I think it is an important tool in our social kit in order to encourage certain types of behavior.

We need to recognize more people in the church, too:

Teachers

Elders, Deacons, Ministers

Worship leaders: whether in song, prayer, guiding us through the Lord’s Supper

Dorcas workers and meals on wheels

The safety team

The sound and computer guys upstairs

Those who help break down and set up for events

Those who help in the nursery

Those who chaperone events for our kiddos

Those who send cards, calls, or make visits

People who help with the big projects like ladies day and VBS

Those who represent our congregation in outside work: such as short term mission work to Florida for disaster clean-up, Magi project, and others.

And my favorite, all the cookers out there who help provide for things like men’s breakfast, potlucks, baby and wedding showers, and more.

And anything else not mentioned. This is not an exhaustive list. But I just want you to think about all the work that goes into what we do. Whether you greet a guest or bake a cake, I appreciate what you do.

When we think about all of these things that it takes to run a congregation, you can easily see it takes a village of servants doesn’t it? It takes people willing to step up. Even when some jobs also may go unnoticed. Even when some jobs are thankless at times.

The ones who do the janitorial work, which I thank the Isoms for doing here, may go un-thanked from time to time… but I guarantee if it were to not be done, it would be noticed quickly.

So for all of the jobs that you do those we know about and not… THANK YOU.

But it’s not for this reason we serve...

I hope you don’t do these things for that recognition. Though it is appropriate to show our recognition, we don’t serve for that purpose.

This was the downfall of the Pharisees and the religious leaders of the time. They did everything they did to have the honor, respect, and admiration of man...

They talked a good talk, but they didn’t walk the walk either! (Matthew 23:3)

Matthew 23:3 NKJV

Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do.

“Do as they say, but not as they do.”

What is it then that Christ accuses them of? Matthew 23:4-7

Matthew 23:4–7 NKJV

For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’

First things first, let’s talk about a word in there you may not be familiar with “Phylacteries.” A Phylactery was “small rolls of parchment with texts from the Law written on them, bound to the forehead[, usually in a box, ] by persons praying” (LSJ)

Second, notice the heavy burdens they lay on men’s shoulders. As opposed to the graciousness of Christ, who’s yoke is easy, and burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30)

All this, and they didn’t even keep the important parts of the law. To love neighbor, to love God. They loved instead only themselves!

Jesus says, they love the recognition! Every move they make is to be seen by men, to get their appreciation. To have that honor. They want the best seats in the house, to be loved by everyone in the marketplace (but especially the important people), they want the TITLES that demand respect.

These are the leaders that Jesus said, don’t be like them. You have to be better than them. They talk a good game, but they don’t walk it.

Recognition is fine and dandy, but they lived for it. They made it their primary goal.

As Christ said, “…all their works they do to be seen by men.”

We should care about recognition. But not from men… No, we want the recognition of our HEAVENLY FATHER.

A Response To the Love of God

(And Christ’s Service to Us)

These men loved themselves. A Christian, who has seen the son of God given on the cross for our sins loves God.

They recognize their place, and desire not to elevate themselves because they know that they are nothing without Christ.

They recognize that no good work will save them. No amount of love or honor from people will help them. That the true path is to follow the will of God and respond to the outpouring of Love of Christ in his service to us.

Christ does teach that here as well. He teaches something that seems backwards, but in reality you realize it makes perfect sense!

Matthew 23:11–12 NKJV

But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.

If the church is to make a difference, we need servants.

The leaders of Jesus’ time could have taken a play from the book of Christ. They could have seen what gathered the crowds around him.

It wasn’t his appearance, because he was simple in appearance.

It wasn’t that he exalted himself, he was humble.

It wasn’t that he put himself in the best places in the temple, or sought the greetings of the important people in the market place. He didn’t do that either. He remained humble and associated with the lowly.

They should have listened to Christ’s words here. Who not only said this, but practiced it!

The same Christ who served people. He healed them, fed them, encouraged them, taught them the truth, he cared about people.

The same Christ who washed his disciples feet, cried with them, showed affection to them, and helped them to grow rather than just keeping them around to improve his status.

Christ had no need for those things. He died for them in the ultimate act of service. And not just the people he liked, he served the whole world in that manner.

CHRIST IS THE ULTIMATE SERVANT LEADER.

So, church, if we want to be Christlike, then look at what we have been entrusted with? See the work that needs to be done? We need leaders to step up and serve. Not because they want to exalt themselves, not because they desire the recognition of men, but because they love their Lord, and have the innate desire to express themselves for what Christ has done for them!

We work not for the recognition of our peers, but we become servants as leaders to show examples to them. We humble ourselves even in positions of authority to show that we love our fellow man like Christ did. That no one is too big for their britches to serve. And that true leadership does serve. Like Christ did.