Leaders, Remember: It is not about You

“Jesus and the apostles sat down together at the table [reclined together]… Then they begin to argue among themselves about who would be the greatest among them” (Luke 22:14,24NLT).

If you study the Middle East cultures, the seating arrangements at a Jewish feast were very important. The host would always take the middle seat at the table. On the right side of the host would sit the first guest of honor, on the left side the second guest honor; on the second right side would sit the third guest of honor, and so forth.

It seems that the disciples spent much time worrying about their position at dinner table and in the kingdom of God (though they do not really clear about ‘the Kingdom’ at this time). Scripture tells us that this argument, dispute had been going on among the disciples for some time. Apparently, the disciples had a hard time hearing Jesus’ message about servant-leadership: “Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant” (Luke 22:26NLT), or in Eugene Peterson’s paraphrase: “Let the senior among you become like junior; let the leader act the part of the servant” (The Message). Jesus wanted the disciples to understand that following Him was not about position; it was about service – it’s not about you, it’s about serving others. The disciples did not fully understand this until later.

In their book Lead Like Jesus, Ken Blanchard & Phil Hodges writes,

“The first challenge for a Lead Like Jesus leader is to recognize that it is not about you. Your leadership is not about your position or your title or the amount of money you make; it is about following the servant leadership example of Jesus. The disciples were slow to understand this, and many leaders today do not understand this either! As you decide to lead like Jesus, remember this: ‘It is not about you.’ What God wants is really matters.”

It’s not about you. Even Jesus in His humanity, the Son of God in obedience to the Father said, “For I am among you as one who serves” (Luke 22:27).  Leader should be like servant. Leader act the part of the servant. It’s not about you; it’s about serving others. It’s not about you; it’s about what God wants. Leaders, it’s not about you.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.