“Whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister.”
Matthew 20:26
A little over ten years ago, the recruitment of a director from a major local bank caused quite a stir in the job market, particularly among leaders in Côte d'Ivoire's banking sector.
Why?
One bank had dared to recruit its competitor's CEO… along with almost his entire executive committee!
Yes, younger readers, you may need to look it up 😁. No free advertising here 😂: the CEO's initials are MD, and the banking group's name starts with a certain letter of the alphabet 🤦🏽♂️.
More seriously, how does a bank recruit almost an entire executive committee?
After MD had impressed them and an offer was about to be made, he told his prospective employer he would accept only if offers were also made to his trusted colleagues, without whom he felt he could not do the job.
What?! Imagine completing a highly competitive, stressful and demanding selection process, then being offered ten million a month (choose your currency and say Amen!), a company car, fuel vouchers, school fees and holiday flights for the family. Complete the list, declare it over your life and say Amen!
And just as all of that is being offered, you say: “Actually, unless you also recruit my assistant, my intern, my colleague… I am not coming!” Incredible.
How can a CEO make his own appointment conditional on hiring his colleagues?
In other words, he went through the interviews alone, yet enabled others to receive offers without the same recruitment process! Say it with me: #SponsoredByGrace.
Let us look at it another way: would your boss take that risk for you?
We all know Daniel's story and his many promotions, but we often overlook how, when the king was troubled by a forgotten dream, Daniel gave up his own rest to pray for its revelation and interpretation, even though it was not directly his problem. #Service [Daniel 2]
We admire David's success as a man after God's own heart, but forget that:
- He spent his youth playing music for a distressed, troubled king, with no recognition or appreciation. #Service [1 Samuel 16:23]
- He risked his life fighting a giant many times his size to save the throne of a king he knew was troubled! #Service [1 Samuel 17]
We love recalling how Joseph interpreted Pharaoh's dream (#Service) and became prime minister, but forget that Joseph also:
- Led the prisoners. If you have been a class representative, neighbourhood leader or association chair, you know that leading naturally rebellious and ungrateful people was hardly a promotion: it was #Service. [Genesis 39]
- Interpreted prisoners' dreams without discriminating by their background or future prospects. [Genesis 41]
Today's passage states it clearly: “Whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister.” (Matthew 20:26).
Dear friend:
- Whom do you serve?
- Who would bring you into a project because of your service?
- Would your boss put you on the project or mission team because you consistently demonstrate #Service?
This is not about saying:
- “I do all the work, but I am poorly paid.”
- “I serve, but my money is always outstanding and they never pay me.”
- “I am an intern and they only send me on errands instead of involving me in important work.”
As the wise man said, and as I enjoy repeating in #LundiPro: “Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings.” Proverbs 22:29.
Skill is a gift and a talent that is built, developed and refined through practice.
However little you are paid, or even if you are not paid, God above counts every hour, including overtime, and can reward you at His own rate: a day's wages for one hour's work (as Founder Daniel ACKAH teaches).
What is service?
Service is:
- Committing yourself to helping others achieve their goals.
- Treating other people's interests as a priority, as though they were your own.
- Anticipating what others will need and preparing to meet that need.
You may ask: what about me?
Well:
- Would your boss make accepting a new job conditional on an offer for you too?
- Would the person you seem to work for without pay, or with late payment, recommend you without hesitation for a job or a major contract elsewhere?
MD could take the risk of saying, “I will come, but with my headquarters,” because each colleague had earned his trust through competence, loyalty and service.
As the saying goes, you cannot master something you have never learned.
Or, if you prefer: a true leader is first a good follower.
An action for today
Reconsider how I understand service and making myself available to others.
Develop a readiness to act promptly on what those entrusted with responsibility ask of us: a manager, spouse, parent or group leader. As Vincent KADIO teaches, plan and act with speed.
A prayer for today
Lord my God, give me a child's heart and a heart of service today. Change my attitude from the inside out, strengthen my diligence even in unpaid or unrecognised work, and open the favour of leaders and the doors of palaces to me, in Jesus' name!
Amen! Amen! Amen!
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