Wise Guys (5)
“you shall select out of all the people able men who fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain; and you shall place these over them as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens.” Exodus 18:21
Leaders – “He’s a prince among men.” That’s the use of the Hebrew word sar. It’s about princes, leaders, chiefs – those who are granted authority over others. We notice immediately that these are not the top of the food chain. A prince is not a king. They still serve someone. No matter where they are practicing godly leadership, they are not the head. There is only One Head of the body, and it isn’t you or me.
It’s popular today to say that the Christian model of leadership is the upside-down pyramid. The leader is at the bottom, supporting all those in the organization through service. This is a useful picture because it unhooks the world’s blueprint of the corporate hierarchy. God’s model is based on function, not title. That’s why it’s so important to recognize that the functions of elder, deacon, bishop and pastor never invest anyone with a title or a position. These words describe the role someone plays, and in God’s view of leadership, that role is usually displayed in humility and service. God’s princes wear sackcloth on behalf of the people. As soon as we begin to think in terms of position, title or hierarchy, we are stepping out of God’s model. The people of Israel clamored for a king in order to be like other nations. That was a direct attack on the biblical view of leadership under the One and only King. God granted them their wish, but at tremendous cost. Whenever God’s children seek to invest authority in titles and status, they spit on the true King, the One Who comes as servant to all.
So, while it’s true that the Christian “hierarchy” doesn’t model the world’s view of leadership, it really isn’t an upside-down pyramid either. The biblical view of distributed authority is flat as a board. No one stands above any other. No one is more important than another. Everyone serves each other. And the only vertical line is the line from every believer to Yeshua, who served every one from beneath. God chooses who will play each role, not us. His choice is sovereign. We don’t get a vote and we don’t get an objection. There is no hierarchy of human importance in the kingdom of heaven. That’s why I am waiting for the day when we celebrate the transformation of Christ in the ones who clean floors and pick up garbage rather than the ones who have written books and stand before the cameras. I wonder if we have forgotten Jesus’ comments on “the greatest among you.”
Jethro understood. When we choose those we voluntarily follow, they must exhibit characteristics that portray God among us. They are God’s wise guys, aligned with His character, in their service to others. Are they more important than the cooks, the janitors, the nursemaids or the foot soldiers? Not in the least! There are no differences in value or status in the Kingdom. They simply have a different job to do in the service of all.
Topical Index: Leadership
