Servant Leadership

For the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many
(Matthew 20:28 / Mark 10:45)

This verse implies of a servant-leader qualities. How can a servant not serve and yet called a servant? On the other hand, how can a Leader lead and yet not to be served but to serve at the same time? The world does not understand.

Just like Jesus – a leader who not only teach about the meaning of Life but also serve and tend to the needy. Can we be like Him? Yes, but hard. A life-time lesson perhaps.

Although all of us are natural leaders – we lead our financial, lead a team in a project, lead a child and in a family and such as, that does not mean we are leaders whom He pleases.

Let us humble ourselves and learn.

How to be a Servant in Christ and a Leader in men.

No doubt we’ll prosper in His name.

Agape
eugene

~ a Reflection blog

3 Types of Willingness

1. Unwilling and yet Willing

This type of willingness suggest of pressing towards someone to do things that are not desired – things that one dislike to do and yet out of obligation, perform it. An insincere act.
Are we unwilling to spread the good news and yet out of obligation, we do so just to compromise?
Are we spending a few minutes to read His word upon knowing that we have not been doing so for the past few weeks to keep ourselves away from the guilt?
Because of pride, are we unwillingly spending money to help those in need in front of your friends?

2. Willing and yet Unwilling

This type of willingness involves much of a chore or perhaps sacrifice to perform a task. Just like the parable that Jesus mentioned in the Bible: The rich man who wanted and was willing to follow Jesus and yet unwilling to give up his possession for the poor because he was very rich.
Are we willing to come for service or prayer meetings and such but unwilling to sacrifice the time?
Are we willing to help those in need but unwilling to help out financially or physically?
Are we willing to pray for someone but unwilling to do so due to forgetfulness and laziness?
Are we willing to tithe but unwilling to offer the 10% which might be a large sum of money?

3. Willing to be Willing

This is the Willingness that will prosper one who performs it. It is not easy as it requires one to Truly sacrifice – be it in terms of time, physical help, financial help or spiritual help etc. It involves full commitment to someone or something. Its goal is to complete a task that requires much of an effort which most will choose not to do it for it either physically, mentally or financially drained one out.

Therefore, when we are willing to be willing, we not only becomes a better person/Christian, our life will prosper too.

So let us learn not just willing to do things that we can do comfortably but also willing to sacrifice ourselves for others – just like how we have become a living sacrifice for God.

Invisible

Recently, I have been reading on a book by Philip Yancy- 'Reaching for the Invisible God'. In his book, he spoke about many issues and life experiences of both himself and others on how to come to know this 'so far yet so near' Being who have been constantly living within those who have accepted Christ.

"Somehow, somewhere, I know the He loves me, even though I do not feel that love as I can feel a human embrace, even though I do not hear a voice as I hear human words of consolation, even though I do not see a smile, as I can see in a human face. Still God speaks to me, looks at me, and embraces me there, where I am still unable to notice it" He said in one of the chapters.

Have you been complaining to God why there is no one to care for you during your downturns when you most needed someone to? I did. I have been asking for help when I most needed one. A worldly help. Instead of a Spiritual one. When I do so, I failed to get one most of the time. And sad to say, it also happens the vice versa way. (which I am terribly sorry for those who have ever asked for my help and I turned them down due to reasons).

Why not ask for the Spiritual help when we know that we ought to? I believe inside our sub-conscious mind, we have set it to a 'default' mode - that is to seek for a worldly help - a help we can see, hear and feel physically, therefore making us feel more of an 'assured' help that one might deem that a problem could be solved without consulting the One who allowed the problem to surface in the first place. That, alone can show our limited mindset which ultimately limit the power of the Almighty.

Do not limit Someone who is limitless. Although due to our fallen nature, we can't seem to help at times but if we always keep in mind the Verse - Mark 9:23 (read!) I believe we can 'awaken' our sub-conscious mind to a state whereby no obstacles, problems, trials, suffering or whatsoever can prevent us from journeying to the destinations we Ought to go.

"My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following Your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire* to please You does in fact please You." (Thomas Merton)


--Note the word 'desire' - this word implies that pleasing God is subjected to our choice.


Agape
Eugene

~ A reflection blog ~

Nice

Parents' Wisdom

Wisdom is knowledge, understanding, experience, discretion and intuitive understanding along with a capacity to apply these qualities well towards finding solutions to problems. -- (wikipedia)

We, as children tend to argue with parents with respect to matters which may seems trivial at times. We always thought that they do not understand what we are facing or what we need most at the moment and so to prevent them from giving instructions and advices, we often quarrels with parents.
We want to state our stand, we want more freedom from them but ultimately, we do not know what we are missing out.

To share a testimonial, I have been defying to my mum at times. Her way of doing things is always the opposite from mine and its frustrating when she tries to blend in her's into mine by making me do things her way. Only to realize that in the end, I have been wrong when the results surfaced.

Be humbe to learn from our parents for they have gone through life longer than us and therefore, more experienced. My mum always says," I have eaten more salt than you eat rice." (In chinese) which is true though if we are humble enough to accept it.

I (we) have been proud of myself - too proud to resist important advices and instructions.
Learn to be humble and wise and honour your parents by listening to them.

agape