Lu 22:24 -30 “24 Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. 25 Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. 26 But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. 27 For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. 28 You are those who have stood by me in my trials. 29 And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, 30 so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”

Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some hire public relations officers. - Daniel J. Boorstin

We live in an age where our image is very important to us. Many of you who are here this morning may have taken some special time to dress in a way that would not embarrass you in front of everyone else. You might have said, “I can’t wear that. What would people think?” Image is important to us.

As we look back in the roots and history of our nation, etiquette has been important. People set the table a certain way, they made sure the knives, forks and spoons were just right, the napkins and glasses set in the right place. There were seats for the more important and places for the less important to sit. I remember my mother saying these words, “Edward, Edward, well and able, keep your elbows off the table.”

Manners, politeness, are good things. But what crept into the social fabric of many people was the propensity to look down on the uncouth, the unmannered, the less educated, the less wealthy, the less empowered. People took great pride in their higher standing, their higher status.

This can happen in leadership as well. We can feel a strong entitlement to the perks of our position. We can look down on those who have not achieved what we have achieved.

As Jesus will teach us this morning, the attitudes of entitlement and pride are not part of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.

Last week we saw that leaders love. This week we will see that leaders serve.

We live in a conflict between two worlds. The first is the world into which we are born. The second is the world into which we are born again. The conflict between the physical world and the spiritual world is real. The conflict between following what everyone else does and what Jesus wants us to do is real. Where some people in our world value position and prestige, God wants us to honor service in Jesus name.

We see this teaching in Luke 22. “24 Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. 25 Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors.

These verses highlight the way of the world. This is true in Jesus’ day and it is true in our day as well. Some people you will meet in this world are self-centered. Jesus wants his disciples to serve others.

Notice two trends that Jesus saw in his day.

First, many leaders were arrogant. Verse 25: Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them.

The Cambridge Dictionary of American Idioms put it this way. “lord it over somebody: to behave as if you are better than someone else. Unfortunately, some senior faculty have a habit of lording it over younger professors.”

This expression came into the English language from this passage.

Do you send out these signals as a leader? Are you always filling people in on your resume? Do you tell the new kid on the block about your experience, your awards, your many years of service? Are you upset when people forget to give you the perks you think you deserve? Do you look down on people who don’t have your education, your experience, your position?

Are you bossy? Those who lord it over others are often bossy. They love giving orders, asking others to do what they would never do. There is nothing that speaks louder about a person’ character than whether or not they are willing to pick up a piece of trash they see on the ground.

At the core of this is a focus on self. This kind of leader worries about how others see him or her. They have an inflated opinion of themselves and make life harder for others around them.

Jesus said, I don’t want you to be like that.

Second, many leaders want recognition. 25 Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors.

The role of a benefactor was huge in the Roman empire. A benefactor would be someone who built something for you, who got you a job, who helped you out in a time of need. None of these things are bad, but to be a benefactor was a real status. It was unspoken, but real, that you owed your benefactor for his or her kindness to you.

Look closely at what Jesus says in this verse. He is not against people helping people. He is against those who leader and say, “People should appreciate the fact that I am giving them a job. They should appreciate that they have me as boss. They should understand that I am their benefactor.” The operative words in this verse are “call themselves…”

Jesus takes on this same issue in a different context in Matthew. Mt 6:1 -4 “1 “Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honoured by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

Here are people who are giving with trumpets sounding. They want people to know that they have given and want the honor and accolades of others.

So those of us who lead need not only to love, but also to serve.

Jesus does not want Christians to ever think that they are better than anyone else. Jesus does not want us to project that out. He does not want us offended when people don’t give us proper recognition or thanks. He does not want us to use our positions of authority as platforms for our own pride.

There is an alternative. Jesus lays it out here.

26 But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. 27 For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. 28 You are those who have stood by me in my trials. 29 And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, 30 so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”

What is the key point between this discussion of youngest and oldest? The youngest had no status. Jesus’ society had great respect for older people. The leaders in the synagogue were known as elders, a term of great respect. Timothy, as a young man, had to work hard so that people would not despise his youth. Jesus uses this picture to show the major difference, don’t be concerned about your status.

Then the leader is to be like the one who serves. We see from verse 27 that he think about this question: Who is most important, the one who eats or the one who serves the meal? As you well know, the customer always is more important than the waiter or waitress as far as the business is concerned.

But look at Jesus. He came as a waiter, he came to serve. He is among the disciples serving them. Jesus wants us to be like him. But I am among you as one who serves.

Look at the apostle Paul. 2Co 1:24 “24 Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, because it is by faith you stand firm.”

So we see that good leaders love and have a servant’s attitude. You are a leader. Lead! But do so with a view to serving God and serving others.

The attitude that Jesus condemns is the attitude that says, “When is the best time for me?” The one Jesus commends is, “When is the best time for everyone?” The attitude that Jesus condemns is the attitude that says, “How does this benefit me?” The attitude that Jesus commends is the attitude that says, “How does this help others.”

What is the problem with wanting to be the greatest? What is the problem with getting recognition.

First, Jesus told us to serve. We disobey Jesus when we seek greatness, seek to be number one, seek to have others give us honor.

Second, our desire to be great can create divisions between Christians. 24 Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest.

Instead of love and harmony, they were in a heated discussion as to who would be greatest. Nothing hurts the church more than a discussion as to who is the best pastor, the best teacher, the best elder or deacon. We got to understand this: We are all on the same team.

29 And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, 30 so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”

Notice what this says. There is only one table. The table belongs to Jesus. When we go to Revelation and see elders seated on thrones, I have to believe that twelve are occupied by the apostles.

I don’t know what you will be doing in heaven. But I do believe this: I am not greater than you, nor are you than me. We are both servants of the Most High God, if our faith is in Jesus Christ.