Introduction
On Thursday at Bunkpurugu, it is expected to have all Delegates to the 6th Annual Conference of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana present and received and hosted by St. Andrews Lutheran Church. The theme for this Delegates Conference is recorded in the New Testament book according to St. Luke “Making Leadership A Service” (22:25-27).
Expectation
God in His word uses the shepherd to show us who a good leader is, and what a leader does. The character of a good under shepherd is what God expects of every leader. The role a shepherd plays over his flock provides an accurate picture of what leadership is. It does not take great men to make great leaders, but lowly people who are willing to render selfless service to their people.
Children of Israel
To the children of Israel, God said: “… I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding,” Jer. 3:15. God intended leadership to be a position for rendering services, be it political or religious. God expects leaders to teach their subjects, showing good examples; and to provide spiritual direction and protection for them. And above all, a leader is expected to be a servant of the people under him and not a boss!
Examples of good Leadership
Leaders such as prophet Samuel, Jephthah and David among others, understood that being a leader was not an opportunity for self-seeking. Unfortunately, many leaders think that holding positions of leadership is a rare opportunity that ought to be exploited for personal gains. As a result of this, their subjects who should have benefited from their leadership have become victims of their abuse of power. If you are using your leadership position to amass wealth at the expense of the people under you, then it is better you were never their leader.
The Scripture says: “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when the wicked rule, the people groan.
Leadership at all levels demand sincerity, humility, love for fellow human beings, selflessness and sacrifice. Like Jesus Christ, a good leader does not want to be served, but he knows that he is only made the first among equals; to serve. A good leader receives such responsibility with all humility and lives up to what is expected of him.
When God called Moses and Gideon, among others, they knew that they were not the most qualified persons for the job. Moses said; “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” And when the angel of the Lord came to Gideon to deliver God’s message for him to lead the Israelites out of the oppression of the Midianites, Gideon confessed: “I am the least in my family and my family is the weakest in Manasseh. How then, can I save Israel?”
If you are a leader in your family or heading a church organization; a government set-up, a school or any other organization, do not think that you are the best among the people you are placed over. Many of your subjects, subordinates or colleagues can do as well as you do; even better than you do. You should not be proud because you have an overwhelming authority over your subjects.
Rehoboam of Israel
Many leaders consider their positions of leadership as an irrevocable birth-right. This was the attitude Rehoboam had when he succeeded Solomon his father; as the new king of Israel. The people came to him with this reasonable request: “Your father made our yoke heavy, now therefore, lighten the hard service of your father and his heavy yoke upon us, and we will serve you” (1 Kings 12:4). Rehoboam asked the people to come back for his reply after three days. Instead of taking the wise counsel of the elders who stood before Solomon his father while he was alive, Rehoboam answered the Israelites with the following words of the young men who grew up with him: “My little fingers is thicker than my father’s loins and now, whereas my father laid upon you a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. My father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.” By this reply, the Israelites felt insulted and taken for granted. And they justifiably answered Rehoboam back with these words: “What portion have we in David? We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse. To thy tents, O Israel! Look now to your own houses, David.” The consequence of this revolutionary statement was not very good at the end.
Leaders Render Service
As a leader, you should render service to your people. If you don’t then it would have been better if the people did not have anybody in authority over them. The phrase: “From Log Cabin to White House” sums up the career of Abraham Lincoln, one of the Presidents of the United States of America. His greatness lay not in the story of his rise to political greatness; but in his work for his country and entire humanity. For instance, in 1865, he caused the Constitution of the United States to be amended for the 13th time. By that amendment, he abolished slavery. That amendment was of more advantage to Africans who were always the victim of slave trade than to Americans. Abraham Lincoln had this to say about his life as an American and as a leader: “I have done nothing to make any human being remember that I lived. Yet what I wish to live for is to connect my name with something, which will be of interest to my fellow men.”
What Legacy do you leave behind
As a leader, what will the people remember your tenure for, would it be for their worsening condition of life? Would you be remembered for having done something, which was and remains a source of interest to your fellow men? Selfishness makes people to consider leadership a matter of life and death. They go to any length to become and also remain leaders for life.
Malady
Self-centeredness is unusually a temptation of political power. King Hezekiah did many good things for his country, but near the end of his life, he developed a self-centered attitude. After the king had made an unwise treaty with the Babylonians, Prophet Isaiah said that his descendants would be conquered and forced into slavery. Instead of showing remorse, king Hezekiah expressed relief because this disaster would not occur in his life time. As a leader you are expected to have compassion for people under you.
Handing Over
During his handing over ceremony, Prophet Samuel challenged the Israelites to testify against him before God whether he had defrauded, oppressed, or taken any bribe from any one of them. The people replied: “YOU have not defrauded us or oppressed us or taken anything from any man’s hands.” (1 Sam. 12:4). As a leader, what will the people testify about you at the end of your tenure?
I know of a leader who keeps his manifesto; a leader who lives up to his campaign promise. He is Jesus Christ. When He came, He said; “I have come that you might have life, and have it more abundantly. Again, He said, I have come to serve and not to be served.
Gospel
Jesus Christ had compassion for people and identified Himself with people who had needs. He fed the hungry, healed the sick, forgave the sinner and sympathized with the bereaved. Jesus is the best teacher and shepherd. He gave His all to His flock. He guided them, protected them and blessed them. Above all He gave His life as a Sacrificial Lamb for their forgiveness, peace that surpasses all human understanding and eternal life!
Conclusion
Prophet Micah speaking to the leaders of his time, and indeed to us today had this very vital question and answer to us. In Micah chapter 6 verse 8, “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, and love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
O Lord God, help us to learn to live like you, serving with humility and to love mercy and act justly that others may be served in humility.
Amen.