| A Boss After God’s Own Heart 4 / ABAGOH >>> |
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A Boss After
God’s Own Heart (ABAGOH)– Part 4 True greatness |
Proverbs 6:16-19 –KJV– These six things doth the
LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: a proud look, a lying
tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, an heart that deviseth wicked
imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, a false witness
that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
Psalms 82:3 Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted
and needy.
Proverbs 21:3 To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the
LORD than sacrifice.
God is a just God. He is a God of righteousness, goodness and equity. He is and will always be concerned about doing what is right and exercising justice because that is His nature and He can never change. The Bible says that it is God who removes kings and establishes kings (Daniel 2:21). And when God sets up a king, He expects him to do justice and exercise righteousness. Unfortunately, this is what is going on in the world as a daily basis: corruption, lying, extortion, shedding of innocent blood, wicked imaginations and plans, injustice, robbery, hatred, abuse and murder. Sadly to say, as it was already the case in times past in the Bible, most of the rulers of this world are wicked in the sight of God. They usually display an attitude of superiority and lordship to let their subjects know that they have the power to do what they want. And often times, as we observe in the world, those who have a position of superiority like to be served, to order people around and make them feel like they are of lesser importance. They rob the poor and fatherless and afflict the needy. But the Lord Jesus said that it should not be so among His disciples and followers. He gave us an example by the way He lived and treated His followers. He even washed the feet of His disciples to show us that a boss after God’s heart should have the humble heart of a servant. Even though He is the Master of all in heaven and on earth, He came to us as a servant and died for us sinners. We were unworthy but He loved us to the point of death, teaching us self-denial and the meaning of true greatness.
As
the disciples of Jesus were fighting about being the greatest, Jesus
helped them to understand what greatness is really all about. To be
someone great in the sight of God means constant humility, meekness
and lowliness. It means that you are not puffed up and that you don’t
try to be seen or get people’s attention. You know that everything you
are and are able to accomplish is only possible because of God’s given
abilities and grace. You know how to thank God for who you are and for
what you are, giving Him and Him alone the glory for every accomplishment.
For without Him we cannot do anything. We cannot even breathe without
Him. To be great in the sight of God means that you are reserved, unassuming,
sensitive to the needs of the people around you and always ready to
help with pure motives. You always keep in mind that you are nothing
but a minister called for a specific task for which you will have to
give God an account. The Bible says in Luke 17:10 that we are unprofitable
servants, which means that we should not expect any reward or recognition
for the services we render to God. Men could give us such recognition
and praise, but we should not seek after it. We are God’s bond servants
and He is not obliged to us in any way. A servant knows how to meet
the needs without being asked to do so and even goes the extra mile
(Matthew 5:41). A servant will go beyond what is expected of him because
he has the mindset of a giver just like his Master. Moreover, a boss
after God’s heart is not egoistic; he does not seek for his personal
gain or profit. He will even allow himself to be robbed of his profit
or deprived of his right because he has a sacrificial mindset. A servant
does not manipulate people to obtain what he wants and understands that
it is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35).
Throughout His earthly ministry, Jesus was very discreet and unassuming.
He used to just slip out of the crowds after performing a miracle. He
did great miracles of healing, deliverance and provision and at some
occasions, He even asked the people not to spread the news about the
miracle He had done. Not because He was afraid of anything or anybody,
but because He wanted to fulfill His ministry in all discretion and
teach His disciple how He expects them to serve Him. The Lord Jesus
was not worried about being famous and He did not seek the recognition
of men. He was not a sounding cymbal, but He was mighty in power through
His humility. Those who used to seek for people’s recognition in His
days were the Pharisees who claimed to know God but were so blind that
they could not recognize Jesus as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Jesus used to call them hypocrites, whited sepulchers and generation
of vipers because they misled His people and pretended to be something
that they were not (See Matthew 3:7; 12:34 ; 15:7 ; 23:27 ; 23:33).
Jesus was a model in words and deeds, not like the Pharisees who used
to exalt themselves above others and loved men’s honor and recognition.
The expression “Woe unto you” is recorded 18 times in the Gospels when
Jesus is addressing the Pharisees because they were in danger of hell
fire, since they pretended to be leaders and doctors of the law but
did not practice the righteousness of God. Jesus teaches us that whosoever
exalts himself shall be abased; and he that humbles himself shall be
exalted (Luke 14:11).
Jesus is the King of kings who came down to our human level, identifying Himself with our infirmities. He was called to preach good tidings to the meek, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound (Isaiah 61:1-3) and He is still doing that today. He fulfilled His earthly ministry in victory and He has given us the power and the authority to continue His work in the fear of God. He humbled Himself and was highly exalted and given the name above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philipians 2:9-11). Because He humbled Himself, He is far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come (Ephesians 1:21). A time is coming where Jesus will reign on earth and all works of evil and unrighteousness will be done away with. His faithful and enduring servants will reign with Him in justice and equity (2 Timothy 2:12; 2 Peter 3:13). “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” (Revelation 21:4) There is a glorious hope and promise for the obedient, perseverant and self-sacrificial servants of the Most High God. mt