Traps

Servant Leadership Trap

Dr. Mike 2020, Traps , ,

John 12:26

If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.

The secular concept of servant leadership being taught is causing more harm than good. In the various books and sermons, I have read or heard, the worldly perspective is to respond to others based on their desires. Like most lies, half the truth is being taught but the remaining more important aspect is left behind.

The Biblical view of servant leadership is Christ-centered to the core. The focus is not the other individual, but Jesus Christ.

One Biblical example used is how Jesus washed the feet of His disciples at his last supper before his death. The worldly view emphasizes how He took on the role of a servant and washed the feet of his students. But let’s review the details.

First, He recognized a need. Secondly, He behaved after His Father (John 5:19). He responded by setting aside His role as Rabbi, and took on the role of a servant. Thirdly, when He came to Peter, Peter did not want his feet washed. Fourthly, in the worldly view, He would have agreed to his wishes and passed on him to the next disciple, but didn’t. Jesus instead exercised His authority and responded to the purpose of the moment. Fifthly, Peter changed his mind based on Jesus’ focus on honoring His Father’ purpose rather than Peter’s desires. Sixth, Jesus continued to finish washing their feet. Lastly, He then demonstrated the purpose behind his behavior.

Servant-leadership is Christ-centered to the core. As Jesus was centered around His Father’s heart, so are we around Jesus’ heart. Leadership first center’s around following the authority in one’s life before exercising the outcome. Servant leadership reaches out to uplift those around you as Jesus instructs. No job is too small nor too large when He is your primary focus. He will provide you with the wisdom, support, and heart to serve those around you. You just need to remain in Him and trust Him for the outcome. Our role is to be the hands and feet while the Holy Spirit works.

As Mother Teresa would so often state, when she served those with leprosy, she would look into their face and see the face of Jesus. That is a perfect example of servant leadership.  

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager & Founder of
Vocational Leadership 360
Author of e-Books:

 *  Dancing With God: Life-Giving Theology Explained
 *  Great Business Emulates a Good God
 *  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
 *  Simply The Messenger
 *  Unequally Married

Encourage a Friend…Share Today’s Message!

Copyright 2013-2020 Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved

Empathy Trap

Dr. Mike 2020, Traps ,

I Peter 3:8-9 ESV

Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.  Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called…

Empathy and sympathy are two commonly confused words in the English language. Empathy is “feeling with” another and sympathy is “feeling for” another. In our culture today, empathy is given higher praise than sympathy. You will notice whenever someone is victimized through the social media, people immediately come to their defense by totaling supporting the victim without having full knowledge of the facts.

Typically, the tribal instinct kicks in and people of the specific tribe take upon themselves to protect one of theirs. The immediate focus becomes protecting the victim without truly caring for the truth.

The Bible speaks much about compassion, sympathy, and caring for another, but nothing I could find about empathy. In fact, more is said about being sympathetic which leads to a better outcome for the community and person for the long haul.

The trap of being empathetic is finding oneself lost in the same problem as the victim. One easily becomes buried in the problem with a victimize mentality rather than remaining objective and seeking out the best solution.

Being sympathetic on the other hand, allows one to feel the pain of the victim but maintain enough distance from the situation to gather all the facts and determine the best solution.

Actors like to practice the art of empathizing to become better equipped for the role they plan to play. However, in real life to empathize most often leads to becoming like the other person sharing their beliefs, worldview, and one-sided opinions rather than capturing the overall big picture of the situation. When one empathizes, one often will surrender objective truth and limit their choices by emerging into the life of another.

Jesus Christ is always our prime example. He surrendered his divine home and entered the human sphere. He walked among us, exercised his natural attributes of compassion, didn’t comply with all the cultural standards of his day, but instead exemplified the truth with grace without allowing the feelings of others persuade him. He sympathized with others rather than allow to become swallowed-up by the attitudes and powers around him.

So next time you witness an “injustice”, exercise Godly compassion, sympathize with the victim, and be patience with reaching a verdict until after all the known facts are gathered. There are always two-sides to a story. You risk blinding yourself when you become empathetic. But being sympathetic allows you to view both sides to reach a more objective, holy verdict.    

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager & Founder of
Vocational Leadership 360
Author of e-Books:

 *  Dancing With God: Life-Giving Theology Explained
 *  Great Business Emulates a Good God
 *  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
 *  Simply The Messenger
 *  Unequally Married

Encourage a Friend…Share Today’s Message!

Copyright 2013-2020 Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved

 

Hooks of Expectation

Dr. Mike Journey in Christ, Traps
In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. Psalm 5:3 ESV.

One of the best ways to build a strong relationship with our Heavenly Father is through prayer. To take the time and listen what He has for you and to empty your heart before him is a life-building relationship event. There is no better way to quickly capture the realization that God cares for you and wants what is best for you.

One of the obstacles though you will need to overcome is trapping yourself with your expectations. Many times we will go before our Father and ask for something specifically believing it is the best solution to the problem. However, instead of delivering the answer the way we expect, God maneuvers the outcome in a substantially different way. Because it is not the way we want it, we may quickly become angry with God and give up on Him. Yet in hindsight, we truly recognize that the outcome was better than we could have ever expected.

These hooks of expectations are both a blessing and a curse. To appreciate the blessing, we need to be open to the final outcome. If we limit God to workout events within our little box, it can easily become a curse. God is vastly larger than any box or solution we come up with. His ways impact a multitude of people and events and purposes. Yet He cares for you and wants you to join Him in His adventures. But you have to be flexible and open.

In Acts three, Peter and John went to the temple to pray. There they met a lame man. The lame man ask them for money. Based on Peter’s and John’s reply, he expected to receive some remuneration. However, instead of a monetary blessing, the man experienced complete healing.

The outcome was more than he expected. So when we go to God, don’t limit yourself with your expectations. Instead allow Him to share His generous heart with you. Not only will you be pleasantly surprised, but you will come to know Him who is more than you ever realized.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager & Founder of
Vocational Discipleship 360
Author of e-Books:
 *  Great Business Emulates a Good God
 *  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
 *  Simply The Messenger
 *  Unequally Married

Encourage a Friend…Share Today’s Message!

Copyright 2017 Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved