People Gathered Around a Teacher in a VillageBible World
20:26Matthew 20:26
But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
It shall not be among followers as it is with rulers who lord authority over others, but whoever would be great must be a minister who serves others in self-sacrificing love. Greatness is not measured by wealth, education or position, but by how much of the Spirit a person possesses and how much of the likeness of Christ the life reveals, to be as a little child in humility, simplicity of faith and purity of love. Jesus himself exemplified this by serving all and giving his life as a ransom to give freedom, life and a place in his kingdom to believers, though infinitely exalted serving even those who called him Lord. No one is therefore to usurp authority over brethren, exercise arbitrary control or take God's place, for Christ alone is Authority and there are to be no kings, rulers or popes among followers. True position follows character and self-conquest through grace, the one nearest Christ being most deeply shaped by self-denying love and willing to give, labor and sacrifice for the salvation of others.
Setting and Wording
The saying was given when the kingdom was expected to be established soon and places of honor were looked for, even though betrayal into the hands of enemies, suffering, death and resurrection had been plainly foretold. That prediction was not comprehended, and a shadow of sorrow fell, yet dispute arose by the way while Jesus went ahead toward Capernaum. Unholy rivalry still found place in hearts at that very time, calling for rebuke through the lesson of the little child that entrance into the kingdom requires conversion and humbling as a little child, and that the one who humbles himself as a little child is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
The desire to be first grew from a mistaken understanding of Scripture. It persisted despite instruction that greatness among followers is not pursuit of rank or self-exaltation but serving others.
Greatness is not measured by wealth, education or position. It is measured by purity of motive and beauty of character, by how much of the Spirit is possessed and how much of the likeness of Christ the life reveals. To become great is to serve others as a minister, which is to be as a little child in humility, in simplicity of faith and in purity of love, rather than seeking authority over others as Gentile rulers lord it over them.
Humility here does not consist in a low estimate of one's own character and qualifications or worth. It consists in adapting oneself to fallen humanity in order to raise others to a higher life. That is the pattern shown when the Son of God humbled himself from equality with God to the place of a servant to uplift man, living in wicked Nazareth, laboring with the hands as a carpenter to help sustain the family, and living subject to parents for thirty years. The true disciple follows this by diligence in labor and provision for those entrusted to care, honoring God by faithful performance of duty instead of striving to exalt self above others or to vie in appearance, for the kingdom is not a worldly kingdom where all strive for the highest position but one where greatness comes through humility and self-sacrifice for the good of others.
Greatness Through Humble Service
It shall not be among followers as it is among Gentile rulers who lord authority over others, for greatness in this kingdom is the reverse of worldly honor and position. Where worldly systems work so that lower classes serve the interests of rulers and people are denied the right to think and act for themselves, those who would be great must humbly serve others as ministers. That service is shown by following the Son of God who served humanity and by acting as true shepherds after Christ's example of serving others.
Whoever would be great must be a minister who serves others, for ministry is unselfish service and service is the law of greatness, not worldly rank or rule or seeking pre-eminence. Strife for supremacy has no place in the kingdom about to be set up, since all are brethren and all servants there are equal. Devotion to serving others is the only distinction recognized there, and the only greatness recognized is the greatness of humility and devotion to service. Even selfishness in disciples is rebuked by this rule that all are brethren.
True position follows character and self-conquest through grace, not exercising authority over others nor seeking honor or rank. The one nearest Christ is the one most deeply shaped by His self-sacrificing love and willing to give, labor and sacrifice for salvation. He who seeks to serve others by self-denial and self-sacrifice will be given attributes of character that commend themselves to God and will develop wisdom, true patience, forbearance, kindness and compassion, and this gives him the chiefest place. True greatness is measured by God's approval and not men's estimation, and is gained by giving up self-seeking and serving others and esteeming others above self. Those most exalted will be those who in this life love the Lord and fellow men and are always ready to honor Him for His great sacrifice, showing loving service that keeps all the laws of His kingdom and acts out His will in love and kindness and loyalty, doing good and not evil.
Rivalry, pride, ambition, selfishness, self-exaltation and love for supremacy shall not exist among followers, and craving to outrank others opposes the spirit of divine love. The drive to dominate comes from a power from beneath, from oppressive power, and Christ made the infinite sacrifice to redeem people from that power so that the redeemed must pity and help those fallen and sinful like themselves instead of imagining authority to rule them. The desire to be supreme prevents attaining true greatness in the future life. Striving for first place and worldly recognition turns a person from God's power to the place of being last, as seen when seeking to become first and greatest damaged influence. Even after the betrayal into enemies' hands, death and resurrection were foretold and not comprehended and a shadow of sorrow fell, unholy rivalry still found place and there was disputing by the way while going ahead to Capernaum, and the answer was conversion and humbling as a little child, for the one who humbles himself as a little child is greatest.
Whoever is greatest must be willing to serve everyone when duty requires it. Obeying God's word with unselfishness secures this greatness.
Christ's Pattern of Service
Jesus lived out the rule that greatness among his followers means serving others rather than seeking pre-eminence, supremacy or preference, giving his own life as a ransom to give freedom and life and a place in his kingdom to those who believe. Though infinitely exalted, he served all, even those who called him Lord, including his betrayer. In the kingdom he was about to set up strife for supremacy has no place, for all are brethren and all servants are equal, and the only distinction recognized is devotion to serving others in humility. The one who seeks to serve others by self-denial and self-sacrifice is given attributes of character that commend themselves to God and develop wisdom, true patience, forbearance, kindness and compassion, and this gives the chiefest place in the kingdom of God, which should make those who continually seek to be first and strive for supremacy ashamed of their course.
His own life was marked by poverty and refusal of worldly power, honor, rule and authority. The sons of Zebedee were wrong to seek worldly honor, and Peter and the sons of Zebedee were wrong to seek worldly greatness, so their example in that desire and error is not to be followed. Greatness is not measured by worldly rank, honor or rule, but by following Christ closely in life, conduct and character.
The Son of God humbled himself from equality with God to the place of a servant to uplift man. He lived in wicked Nazareth, labored with his hands as a carpenter to help sustain the family, and lived subject to his parents for thirty years. He laid aside his kingly crown and royal robe and stepped from his high command to take his place at the head of a fallen race, clothing divinity with humanity in a world seared and marred with the curse. Becoming one with humanity, he endured in behalf of humanity the temptations of the wily foe, to show men that they may stand on vantage ground with God.
Christ gives this instruction as a principle for daily relationships and calls his followers to follow his own example closely in life, conduct, work, speech and character, acting as true shepherds who serve others rather than exercising authority over others as worldly rulers do or seeking rank and honor. They are to imitate him and work in unison with him. He helps, strengthens and guides those who desire to follow him, and they receive an everlasting reward.
The foot-washing ordinance reveals character under this rule and calls participants to humility. In it the Holy Spirit convicts them of sin, leads them to contrite confession, and prepares them to receive forgiveness and Christ's righteousness. A craving for supremacy and desire to be supreme prevents a person from attaining true greatness in the future life.
Leadership Without Domination
It shall not be so among followers that any man usurps authority over brethren, exercises arbitrary authority, takes God's place, dictates to any church, controls fellow servants, or commands and forbids with authoritative utterances, for Christ alone is Authority and there are to be no kings, rulers or popes among them. The drive to dominate comes from a power from beneath, from oppressive power opposed to divine love, and Christ made infinite sacrifice to redeem people from it, so the redeemed must pity and help those fallen and sinful like themselves instead of imagining they have authority to rule them. Those entrusted with grave responsibility must first be proved and converted in heart, soul and mind, must seek counsel from God, recognize weakness and depend on Him as the one Ruler, and must be humble and serving rather than dictatorial, converting others to their own ideas, exalting whom they will and hindering those not in harmony with them, ignoring messages sent and making fellow laborers' work difficult, for magnifying self and exercising domineering power dishonors God.
A position of influence gives no right to dominate fellow believers, demand obedience as though one's own judgment must govern, convert others to one's own ideas, exalt whom one wills and hinder others, or make a fellow believer answerable to human authority in matters of individual duty. Leaders are not to command one brother to do this and another to do that, control details of work, enforce instructions by withholding pay, or require another to accept one's words, experience or judgment as conscience or dictator. Those who accept the truth belong to Christ, not to human leaders or to the man who labored for them, and must depend on God rather than be bound to another person or placed under servile human control, with Christ's humility and lowly service as the example. Ministers are forbidden to bind people to themselves and control them by commanding, forbidding and dictating like an officer over soldiers as priests and rulers did, to demand a church that does their bidding and is ruled by their wisdom, to build up separate parties, or to teach converts to refuse fellowship with those who do not do just as they do, and such a course shows need of reconversion, while true greatness is service in meekness and lowliness appearing in all said and done, pressing together in unity with no wrangling, strife or division.
Those in responsibility are set to be wise helpers and counsellors who plan and counsel together as brethren, with every worker alike accountable and answerable to God's requirements and instructions, cultivating humble dependence and not seeking to take too much authority or to rule. General plans and policies require several men of wisdom and experience consulting together rather than one man ruling, and God is not pleased when leaders seek to rule and control their fellows, especially those of more experience. Responsibilities are to be distributed among a large number of competent men with no kingly power to control the whole body or any branch resting upon a few men, and every conference, institution, church and individual has a voice in choosing chief responsibilities. For a man to remain always in one managerial position injures religious experience, harms spiritual health and hinders formation of correct sanctified principles, so change in management in every line is needed and others will be raised up to relieve the situation.
Those who lead must themselves be governed by God and remain under His control, exercise self-control, live peaceably and obey the commandments so their rule reflects justice, mercy and love. They are to act free from selfishness and greed, walk humbly with God, serve with wisdom, protect and strengthen the people, reject selfishness, and set an example others can safely follow, modeling true Christianity and exerting a refining influence for what is right. Their position gives no liberty to set self above fellow believers, dictate to them, rule over them, speak impatiently or boastfully, or act overbearingly and oppressively, for when love for God replaces love of self domineering rule gives way to service.
A person entrusted with authority remains a servant and must represent patience, kindness, long-suffering love, honesty and self-denial. Without self-control a person in command places himself below the servant, and one who exalts himself, spreads himself out to large proportions to seek control, or cannot control himself fails to represent the Master, proves unqualified and dangerous to entrust with religious responsibility, and if he forgets he is a servant and exalts himself he should be removed from office.
Bringing other minds or talents under one person's absolute control is forbidden, for talents belong to God and such control dishonors Him, separates people from Him, exposes them to temptation, and aims to make people serve others as slaves, producing confusion, distrust, jealousy and evil suspicions. Treating workers as inanimate machines, sanctioning unjust methods, making resolutions and principles contrary to the Word, turning from justice and equity, speaking proudly and seeking to dominate and treating fellow men unjustly are walking away from God and violate His word. Resting kingly power over the whole body or any branch upon a few men is likewise forbidden, with greatness as ministering service shared by many.
Leaders dishonor God and endanger both their own souls and those under control when they seek power over people, impose human control, control workers through prohibitions, put human will before the Lord's will, or act as though they must decide what others may believe or do, for such self-rule places self in judgment over God's way. Bringing self into the work can lead to speaking and acting with an authority not intended toward one another, and exercising authority in a self-directed, domineering way is contrary to the principle that greatness is service not ruling or oppressing.
Sharp, dictatorial treatment that provokes or needlessly harms fellow workers is ruled out, and even proven unfaithfulness is no license for harshness. Fellow workers are to be dealt with in kind compassion, tender sympathy, courtesy and affection, recognizing shared human weakness, suffering and temptation, treating workers as trustworthy unless there is clear evidence otherwise, while remaining firm and faithful to principle. No one given work by God is to lord it over any soul, be hard, dictatorial, unmerciful and overbearing, say to those who have erred things there is no right to say, take souls into own hands to chastise them, provoke to anger, or make cruelly unjust charges, for such exercise wounds and bruises souls to everlasting harm and can drive souls to perdition. Toward those who have erred and fight hard battles to find their way back to soundness of mind and correct principles there is to be tenderness, guarding against over-weariness that leads to harsh correction, and the weary should keep silent and rest rather than take power that leads to grievous wrong.
Ministers are to win people by persuasion and appeal, not compel or command them, reflecting brotherhood and freedom of choice. This servant standard contrasts with the claim to rule as lord of lords. The call to be a servant entails accepting the full labor of ministry through personal contact and follow-up, including visiting those affected by the truth and helping it reach understanding and conscience, not merely preaching sermons.
Unity and Daily Service
Greatness among followers gives no reason for self-interest or exclusion, but requires rejecting a narrow, jealous spirit and showing the broad sympathy seen in Christ. Christians are members of one body with a common interest, having different talents with each having work to do while all depend on Christ. When filled with His Spirit and living by His principles they do not quarrel or strive to be rulers but work together in harmony and peace in service, and usefulness is shown not merely by talents possessed but by faithfully using them under the Holy Spirit to do good and help save others.
Variance and rivalry shall not exist, for the rule forbids binding others to oneself and controlling them by commanding, forbidding and dictating like an officer over soldiers as the priests and rulers did, since those who accept truth belong to Christ and not to the one who labored for them and must be treated as His property with no unwise authority over them. No one is to demand a church that does his bidding and is ruled by his wisdom, to build up separate parties, or to teach converts to refuse fellowship with those who do not do just as they do, for such a course shows need of reconversion, while true greatness is service in the meekness and lowliness of Christ appearing in all that is said and done, pressing together in unity with no wrangling, strife or division. Even after the plain foretelling of betrayal into enemies’ hands, death and resurrection, which was not comprehended and brought a shadow of sorrow, unholy rivalry still found place and there was disputing by the way as Jesus went ahead to Capernaum, and the rebuke came by taking a little child to teach that unless converted and humbled as a little child there is no entrance into the kingdom, and the one so humbled is greatest there. True greatness is therefore humility and the kind, loving nature of Christ expressed in strong brotherly union and harmony, not drawing apart in independent judgment and different ways but counseling together, exchanging ideas and working unitedly, which for physicians who believe the truth forbids variance and rivalry as offensive to God and calls them to harmony in work for time and eternity. Those God is leading out and fitting for translation are to stand as sentinels, unite forces and become servants of all by imitating the great Pattern, sowing kindness, love, tenderness and thoughtful care and preserving the respect and dignity of others rather than sowing distrust, envy, jealousy, self-love and bitterness of thought and feeling or acting severe, critical, overbearing and careless of feelings, since fellow laborers reap for eternal life what they sow.
The same rule applies to fellow laborers and teachers to serve students with kindness, love and thoughtful care rather than selfishness or severity. It applies to mothers not to compete with wealthy neighbors over appearance but to honor God through faithful performance of duty and diligent labor and provision for those entrusted to them, since the kingdom is not a worldly contest for rank but humble service and self-sacrifice following Jesus, who humbled Himself to raise fallen humanity to a higher life. Those seeking to be first must humble their hearts before God and begin mission work in a humble way at home, taking up neglected work at the very door and laboring for the cities with every true believer carrying a message, following foreign missionaries who for truth endure unsuitable climates, hardships and opposition from people of idolatrous faith. Esteeming others above self shows unity and bears witness to the power of truth, for greatness is not gained by seeking precedence or human recognition but by giving up self-seeking and serving others, measured by God’s approval and not men’s estimation. Those most exalted in the kingdom will be those who in this life love the Lord and fellow men and are always ready to honor Him for His great sacrifice by keeping all the laws of His kingdom and acting out His will in love, kindness and loyalty, doing good and not evil, following the pattern of Him who laid aside kingly crown and royal robe and stepped from high command to the head of a fallen race, clothing divinity with humanity in a world seared and marred by the curse, becoming one with humanity and enduring the foe’s temptations to show men they may stand on vantage ground with God.
It shall not be among followers as it is with rulers who lord authority over others, but whoever would be great must be a minister who serves others in self-sacrificing love. Greatness is not measured by wealth, education or position, but by how much of the Spirit a person possesses and how much of the likeness of Christ the life reveals, to be as a little child in humility, simplicity of faith and purity of love. Jesus himself exemplified this by serving all and giving his life as a ransom to give freedom, life and a place in his kingdom to believers, though infinitely exalted serving even those who called him Lord. No one is therefore to usurp authority over brethren, exercise arbitrary control or take God's place, for Christ alone is Authority and there are to be no kings, rulers or popes among followers. True position follows character and self-conquest through grace, the one nearest Christ being most deeply shaped by self-denying love and willing to give, labor and sacrifice for the salvation of others.
Setting and Wording
The saying was given when the kingdom was expected to be established soon and places of honor were looked for, even though betrayal into the hands of enemies, suffering, death and resurrection had been plainly foretold. That prediction was not comprehended, and a shadow of sorrow fell, yet dispute arose by the way while Jesus went ahead toward Capernaum. Unholy rivalry still found place in hearts at that very time, calling for rebuke through the lesson of the little child that entrance into the kingdom requires conversion and humbling as a little child, and that the one who humbles himself as a little child is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
The desire to be first grew from a mistaken understanding of Scripture. It persisted despite instruction that greatness among followers is not pursuit of rank or self-exaltation but serving others.
Greatness is not measured by wealth, education or position. It is measured by purity of motive and beauty of character, by how much of the Spirit is possessed and how much of the likeness of Christ the life reveals. To become great is to serve others as a minister, which is to be as a little child in humility, in simplicity of faith and in purity of love, rather than seeking authority over others as Gentile rulers lord it over them.
Humility here does not consist in a low estimate of one's own character and qualifications or worth. It consists in adapting oneself to fallen humanity in order to raise others to a higher life. That is the pattern shown when the Son of God humbled himself from equality with God to the place of a servant to uplift man, living in wicked Nazareth, laboring with the hands as a carpenter to help sustain the family, and living subject to parents for thirty years. The true disciple follows this by diligence in labor and provision for those entrusted to care, honoring God by faithful performance of duty instead of striving to exalt self above others or to vie in appearance, for the kingdom is not a worldly kingdom where all strive for the highest position but one where greatness comes through humility and self-sacrifice for the good of others.
Greatness Through Humble Service
It shall not be among followers as it is among Gentile rulers who lord authority over others, for greatness in this kingdom is the reverse of worldly honor and position. Where worldly systems work so that lower classes serve the interests of rulers and people are denied the right to think and act for themselves, those who would be great must humbly serve others as ministers. That service is shown by following the Son of God who served humanity and by acting as true shepherds after Christ's example of serving others.
Whoever would be great must be a minister who serves others, for ministry is unselfish service and service is the law of greatness, not worldly rank or rule or seeking pre-eminence. Strife for supremacy has no place in the kingdom about to be set up, since all are brethren and all servants there are equal. Devotion to serving others is the only distinction recognized there, and the only greatness recognized is the greatness of humility and devotion to service. Even selfishness in disciples is rebuked by this rule that all are brethren.
True position follows character and self-conquest through grace, not exercising authority over others nor seeking honor or rank. The one nearest Christ is the one most deeply shaped by His self-sacrificing love and willing to give, labor and sacrifice for salvation. He who seeks to serve others by self-denial and self-sacrifice will be given attributes of character that commend themselves to God and will develop wisdom, true patience, forbearance, kindness and compassion, and this gives him the chiefest place. True greatness is measured by God's approval and not men's estimation, and is gained by giving up self-seeking and serving others and esteeming others above self. Those most exalted will be those who in this life love the Lord and fellow men and are always ready to honor Him for His great sacrifice, showing loving service that keeps all the laws of His kingdom and acts out His will in love and kindness and loyalty, doing good and not evil.
Rivalry, pride, ambition, selfishness, self-exaltation and love for supremacy shall not exist among followers, and craving to outrank others opposes the spirit of divine love. The drive to dominate comes from a power from beneath, from oppressive power, and Christ made the infinite sacrifice to redeem people from that power so that the redeemed must pity and help those fallen and sinful like themselves instead of imagining authority to rule them. The desire to be supreme prevents attaining true greatness in the future life. Striving for first place and worldly recognition turns a person from God's power to the place of being last, as seen when seeking to become first and greatest damaged influence. Even after the betrayal into enemies' hands, death and resurrection were foretold and not comprehended and a shadow of sorrow fell, unholy rivalry still found place and there was disputing by the way while going ahead to Capernaum, and the answer was conversion and humbling as a little child, for the one who humbles himself as a little child is greatest.
Whoever is greatest must be willing to serve everyone when duty requires it. Obeying God's word with unselfishness secures this greatness.
Christ's Pattern of Service
Jesus lived out the rule that greatness among his followers means serving others rather than seeking pre-eminence, supremacy or preference, giving his own life as a ransom to give freedom and life and a place in his kingdom to those who believe. Though infinitely exalted, he served all, even those who called him Lord, including his betrayer. In the kingdom he was about to set up strife for supremacy has no place, for all are brethren and all servants are equal, and the only distinction recognized is devotion to serving others in humility. The one who seeks to serve others by self-denial and self-sacrifice is given attributes of character that commend themselves to God and develop wisdom, true patience, forbearance, kindness and compassion, and this gives the chiefest place in the kingdom of God, which should make those who continually seek to be first and strive for supremacy ashamed of their course.
His own life was marked by poverty and refusal of worldly power, honor, rule and authority. The sons of Zebedee were wrong to seek worldly honor, and Peter and the sons of Zebedee were wrong to seek worldly greatness, so their example in that desire and error is not to be followed. Greatness is not measured by worldly rank, honor or rule, but by following Christ closely in life, conduct and character.
The Son of God humbled himself from equality with God to the place of a servant to uplift man. He lived in wicked Nazareth, labored with his hands as a carpenter to help sustain the family, and lived subject to his parents for thirty years. He laid aside his kingly crown and royal robe and stepped from his high command to take his place at the head of a fallen race, clothing divinity with humanity in a world seared and marred with the curse. Becoming one with humanity, he endured in behalf of humanity the temptations of the wily foe, to show men that they may stand on vantage ground with God.
Christ gives this instruction as a principle for daily relationships and calls his followers to follow his own example closely in life, conduct, work, speech and character, acting as true shepherds who serve others rather than exercising authority over others as worldly rulers do or seeking rank and honor. They are to imitate him and work in unison with him. He helps, strengthens and guides those who desire to follow him, and they receive an everlasting reward.
The foot-washing ordinance reveals character under this rule and calls participants to humility. In it the Holy Spirit convicts them of sin, leads them to contrite confession, and prepares them to receive forgiveness and Christ's righteousness. A craving for supremacy and desire to be supreme prevents a person from attaining true greatness in the future life.
Leadership Without Domination
It shall not be so among followers that any man usurps authority over brethren, exercises arbitrary authority, takes God's place, dictates to any church, controls fellow servants, or commands and forbids with authoritative utterances, for Christ alone is Authority and there are to be no kings, rulers or popes among them. The drive to dominate comes from a power from beneath, from oppressive power opposed to divine love, and Christ made infinite sacrifice to redeem people from it, so the redeemed must pity and help those fallen and sinful like themselves instead of imagining they have authority to rule them. Those entrusted with grave responsibility must first be proved and converted in heart, soul and mind, must seek counsel from God, recognize weakness and depend on Him as the one Ruler, and must be humble and serving rather than dictatorial, converting others to their own ideas, exalting whom they will and hindering those not in harmony with them, ignoring messages sent and making fellow laborers' work difficult, for magnifying self and exercising domineering power dishonors God.
A position of influence gives no right to dominate fellow believers, demand obedience as though one's own judgment must govern, convert others to one's own ideas, exalt whom one wills and hinder others, or make a fellow believer answerable to human authority in matters of individual duty. Leaders are not to command one brother to do this and another to do that, control details of work, enforce instructions by withholding pay, or require another to accept one's words, experience or judgment as conscience or dictator. Those who accept the truth belong to Christ, not to human leaders or to the man who labored for them, and must depend on God rather than be bound to another person or placed under servile human control, with Christ's humility and lowly service as the example. Ministers are forbidden to bind people to themselves and control them by commanding, forbidding and dictating like an officer over soldiers as priests and rulers did, to demand a church that does their bidding and is ruled by their wisdom, to build up separate parties, or to teach converts to refuse fellowship with those who do not do just as they do, and such a course shows need of reconversion, while true greatness is service in meekness and lowliness appearing in all said and done, pressing together in unity with no wrangling, strife or division.
Those in responsibility are set to be wise helpers and counsellors who plan and counsel together as brethren, with every worker alike accountable and answerable to God's requirements and instructions, cultivating humble dependence and not seeking to take too much authority or to rule. General plans and policies require several men of wisdom and experience consulting together rather than one man ruling, and God is not pleased when leaders seek to rule and control their fellows, especially those of more experience. Responsibilities are to be distributed among a large number of competent men with no kingly power to control the whole body or any branch resting upon a few men, and every conference, institution, church and individual has a voice in choosing chief responsibilities. For a man to remain always in one managerial position injures religious experience, harms spiritual health and hinders formation of correct sanctified principles, so change in management in every line is needed and others will be raised up to relieve the situation.
Those who lead must themselves be governed by God and remain under His control, exercise self-control, live peaceably and obey the commandments so their rule reflects justice, mercy and love. They are to act free from selfishness and greed, walk humbly with God, serve with wisdom, protect and strengthen the people, reject selfishness, and set an example others can safely follow, modeling true Christianity and exerting a refining influence for what is right. Their position gives no liberty to set self above fellow believers, dictate to them, rule over them, speak impatiently or boastfully, or act overbearingly and oppressively, for when love for God replaces love of self domineering rule gives way to service.
A person entrusted with authority remains a servant and must represent patience, kindness, long-suffering love, honesty and self-denial. Without self-control a person in command places himself below the servant, and one who exalts himself, spreads himself out to large proportions to seek control, or cannot control himself fails to represent the Master, proves unqualified and dangerous to entrust with religious responsibility, and if he forgets he is a servant and exalts himself he should be removed from office.
Bringing other minds or talents under one person's absolute control is forbidden, for talents belong to God and such control dishonors Him, separates people from Him, exposes them to temptation, and aims to make people serve others as slaves, producing confusion, distrust, jealousy and evil suspicions. Treating workers as inanimate machines, sanctioning unjust methods, making resolutions and principles contrary to the Word, turning from justice and equity, speaking proudly and seeking to dominate and treating fellow men unjustly are walking away from God and violate His word. Resting kingly power over the whole body or any branch upon a few men is likewise forbidden, with greatness as ministering service shared by many.
Leaders dishonor God and endanger both their own souls and those under control when they seek power over people, impose human control, control workers through prohibitions, put human will before the Lord's will, or act as though they must decide what others may believe or do, for such self-rule places self in judgment over God's way. Bringing self into the work can lead to speaking and acting with an authority not intended toward one another, and exercising authority in a self-directed, domineering way is contrary to the principle that greatness is service not ruling or oppressing.
Sharp, dictatorial treatment that provokes or needlessly harms fellow workers is ruled out, and even proven unfaithfulness is no license for harshness. Fellow workers are to be dealt with in kind compassion, tender sympathy, courtesy and affection, recognizing shared human weakness, suffering and temptation, treating workers as trustworthy unless there is clear evidence otherwise, while remaining firm and faithful to principle. No one given work by God is to lord it over any soul, be hard, dictatorial, unmerciful and overbearing, say to those who have erred things there is no right to say, take souls into own hands to chastise them, provoke to anger, or make cruelly unjust charges, for such exercise wounds and bruises souls to everlasting harm and can drive souls to perdition. Toward those who have erred and fight hard battles to find their way back to soundness of mind and correct principles there is to be tenderness, guarding against over-weariness that leads to harsh correction, and the weary should keep silent and rest rather than take power that leads to grievous wrong.
Ministers are to win people by persuasion and appeal, not compel or command them, reflecting brotherhood and freedom of choice. This servant standard contrasts with the claim to rule as lord of lords. The call to be a servant entails accepting the full labor of ministry through personal contact and follow-up, including visiting those affected by the truth and helping it reach understanding and conscience, not merely preaching sermons.
Unity and Daily Service
Greatness among followers gives no reason for self-interest or exclusion, but requires rejecting a narrow, jealous spirit and showing the broad sympathy seen in Christ. Christians are members of one body with a common interest, having different talents with each having work to do while all depend on Christ. When filled with His Spirit and living by His principles they do not quarrel or strive to be rulers but work together in harmony and peace in service, and usefulness is shown not merely by talents possessed but by faithfully using them under the Holy Spirit to do good and help save others.
Variance and rivalry shall not exist, for the rule forbids binding others to oneself and controlling them by commanding, forbidding and dictating like an officer over soldiers as the priests and rulers did, since those who accept truth belong to Christ and not to the one who labored for them and must be treated as His property with no unwise authority over them. No one is to demand a church that does his bidding and is ruled by his wisdom, to build up separate parties, or to teach converts to refuse fellowship with those who do not do just as they do, for such a course shows need of reconversion, while true greatness is service in the meekness and lowliness of Christ appearing in all that is said and done, pressing together in unity with no wrangling, strife or division. Even after the plain foretelling of betrayal into enemies’ hands, death and resurrection, which was not comprehended and brought a shadow of sorrow, unholy rivalry still found place and there was disputing by the way as Jesus went ahead to Capernaum, and the rebuke came by taking a little child to teach that unless converted and humbled as a little child there is no entrance into the kingdom, and the one so humbled is greatest there. True greatness is therefore humility and the kind, loving nature of Christ expressed in strong brotherly union and harmony, not drawing apart in independent judgment and different ways but counseling together, exchanging ideas and working unitedly, which for physicians who believe the truth forbids variance and rivalry as offensive to God and calls them to harmony in work for time and eternity. Those God is leading out and fitting for translation are to stand as sentinels, unite forces and become servants of all by imitating the great Pattern, sowing kindness, love, tenderness and thoughtful care and preserving the respect and dignity of others rather than sowing distrust, envy, jealousy, self-love and bitterness of thought and feeling or acting severe, critical, overbearing and careless of feelings, since fellow laborers reap for eternal life what they sow.
The same rule applies to fellow laborers and teachers to serve students with kindness, love and thoughtful care rather than selfishness or severity. It applies to mothers not to compete with wealthy neighbors over appearance but to honor God through faithful performance of duty and diligent labor and provision for those entrusted to them, since the kingdom is not a worldly contest for rank but humble service and self-sacrifice following Jesus, who humbled Himself to raise fallen humanity to a higher life. Those seeking to be first must humble their hearts before God and begin mission work in a humble way at home, taking up neglected work at the very door and laboring for the cities with every true believer carrying a message, following foreign missionaries who for truth endure unsuitable climates, hardships and opposition from people of idolatrous faith. Esteeming others above self shows unity and bears witness to the power of truth, for greatness is not gained by seeking precedence or human recognition but by giving up self-seeking and serving others, measured by God’s approval and not men’s estimation. Those most exalted in the kingdom will be those who in this life love the Lord and fellow men and are always ready to honor Him for His great sacrifice by keeping all the laws of His kingdom and acting out His will in love, kindness and loyalty, doing good and not evil, following the pattern of Him who laid aside kingly crown and royal robe and stepped from high command to the head of a fallen race, clothing divinity with humanity in a world seared and marred by the curse, becoming one with humanity and enduring the foe’s temptations to show men they may stand on vantage ground with God.