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The
highest courage is to dare to be yourself in the face of adversity,
choosing right over wrong, ethics over convenience, and truth over
popularity.
Travel the path of integrity without looking back, for THERE IS
NEVER A WRONG TIME TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
-
Bishop Soc Villegas
25 July 2007
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<< Go
to "Servant Leadership" Menu...
ON SERVANT
LEADERSHIP
(Part 21)
THE GREAT MOSES
August
9, 2011
Today’s reading: Deuteronomy 31:1-8
Moses was one of the greatest figures in salvation history.
After serving the Lord so long, through intense hardships and
stiff-necked opposition from God’s people, tasked with
bringing them into the promised land, Moses was not allowed to
cross the Jordan. This had been his driving vision, the
fulfillment of God’s call, but at the end of his life, he
would not enter into the promised land but would die in the
desert.
Moses could have complained. After all, he had gone through so
much for the Lord. He had been faithful and steadfast. More than
anyone else, he deserved to be rewarded. But no. He humbly
accepted what God had decided for him. He simply said, “the
Lord has told me that I shall not cross this Jordan.” (Dt
31:2b).
Moses could have grumbled. He could have told his leaders how
unfair God’s decision was. God’s people had been grumbling
all the time in the desert, so why not him? But no.
Moses could have asked for reconsideration. He after all had
successfully gotten God to change His mind before (see Ex
32:10-14). It would not have been a big deal for God to allow
him to enter the promised land, especially if he recounted all
he had done for Him. But no.
Moses could have sulked (“tampo”). It would have been
natural for him to feel sorry for himself. After all, God seemed
to be rejecting him. Sulking would probably have been
therapeutic. He just needed time off by himself and nurse his
sorrow. But no.
Moses could have quit (“lie low”). He could have reasoned
out that he was no longer needed nor wanted. He could have
spared himself the continuing heartbreak of seeing the
excitement of the Israelites preparing to cross the Jordan. But
no.
Moses could have lost his fiery zeal. His zeal for God and
vision for God’s people in the promised land had provided him
the adrenalin to persevere and endure through all of 40 years in
the desert. Now the Israelites were at the edge of the promised
land, and his work was done. Joshua was taking over. But no. He
continued to exhort them strongly (Dt 31:6) and he strongly
endorsed and exhorted his successor Joshua (Dt 31:7-8).
Moses was the servant leader par excellence. He is one
perfect example of how to accept the trials and afflictions of
leadership. His service was not about him, but all about God. He
denied self, he took up his cross, and he simply followed God in
every way.
How about us?
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Do
we complain when we are not recognized for the good that we
do?
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Do
we grumble whenever we disagree on how things are done in
community, and involve others in our grumbling?
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Do
we continue insisting on our point when the leaders over us
decide to do things another way, rather than submitting?
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Do
we sulk when we are unappreciated for all the hard work we
do, when we feel we are not treated in a good way by others?
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Do
we quit when we do not get our way?
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Do
we lose our zeal when we do not see the fulfillment of our
goals?
We
servant leaders are mere servants, who happen to be given
leadership positions. But there is only one Master. Our lives
are not our own. We exist simply to serve the Master. In doing
so, we are not to look to our own preferences, desires,
fulfillment, agenda or glorification.
Whatever disappointments we personally have (and yes, there will
be such disappointments), servant leaders need to persist in
looking to God, pointing to God, and continuing to serve the
Master till the end. It is His work after all, which in His
goodness He has merely shared with us.
As Moses in his valedictory said, “it is the Lord, your God,
who marches with you” (Dt 31:6b). Moses had led the march out
of Egypt and through 40 years in the desert. Now the Israelites
were on the verge of crossing into the promised land, but Moses
would not be with them. He must have been heart-broken but that
was beside the point, and he just pointed them to the One who
really mattered. “It is the Lord your God who will cross
before you” (Dt 31:3a).
Let us look to Moses, this great servant leader, and serve our
God with the same zeal and humility. And let us know that if we
are faithful, God will allow us to enter into the ultimate
promised land, heaven.
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