Great Leader and Great Servant
Genesis 2:19 – 20 Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals.
- Humbleness:
God created everything – birds, animals, plants, sky, sun and man. All of them were the works of HIS hands. Despite possessing the authority to effortlessly assign names to all the animals and other living things He had brought into being, God graciously entrusted Adam with this profound task, eagerly anticipating the names he would bestow upon them. Whatever name Adam chose, it became the identity of each creature. In this remarkable display of magnanimity, God regarded Adam not merely as His creation but also as a cherished companion, treating him with profound respect and affording him the honor of naming the entire animal kingdom. God, not concerned by any sense of superiority, did not harbor thoughts such as, “I have created all things, and therefore, I alone should assign their names.” Instead, He illustrated through His own actions the essence of genuine humility that befits a true leader. By voluntarily giving credit for His awe-inspiring creations to Adam, God exemplified the virtue of humility.
- Gives changes to fix mistakes:
Gen 3:8 -9 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”
In the wake of their transgression, God, in His omniscience, possessed complete awareness of their fall from grace. His divine understanding includes every event in the universe, extending to the minute details, such as the very number of hairs in our heads. Despite this intimate knowledge, the Lord approached them and inquired, “What have you done?” In this act of inquiry, He extended to them an opportunity to account for their actions, to express remorse and seek forgiveness. Had they chosen to genuinely repent, rather than deflecting blame and casting accusatory fingers, the outcome could have unfolded in a manner, altered by their sincere contrition.
- Lead by example:
When Jesus lived on earth, Jesus exemplified a life guided by principles rather than mere words. He carried His own cross, bearing the weight of ultimate sacrifice as He offered His life selflessly for our sake. In a parallel manner, we too are called upon to make sacrifices for those entrusted to our care. We are encouraged to approach the Lord fervently, asking Him on behalf of the lives and souls of those placed under our leadership.
Mat 16:24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.
A servant gives glory to his master:
1 chr 29:14 – 19 “But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. 15 We are foreigners and strangers in your sight, as were all our ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope. 16 Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you.
In humble recognition, he abstained from harboring pride over the contributions made by himself and his people towards the construction of the temple. David’s contentment did not arise from the abundant generosity displayed by his people. Instead, he firmly believed within his heart that it was solely the Lord who gave them the means to accumulate such wealth and the heart to give everything. In his profound understanding, David acknowledged that the essence of generosity originated solely from the divine source, and thus, everything they offered rightfully belonged to the Lord. He refrained from claiming ownership or seeking personal credit for his people’s magnanimity, as he attributed the credit to the Lord, recognizing that all praise and honor were due to Him alone.
Now, let us evaluate ourselves. Do we possess the qualities of a commendable leader? Are we dutiful servants, both to the Lord and to our fellow human beings? Whether we assume the roles of a father, mother, elder sibling, manager, leader, coordinator, or hold positions such as SMP, SMLA, or speaker in AOJ, we are entrusted with the responsibility of guiding, enlightening, and uplifting those placed under our care. In this regard, we are called to emulate the example set forth by the Lord Himself, with Humbleness, by giving chances, Leading by example, Not taking credit but giving glory to the Almighty, by being Happy for them, encourage and pray for the people the Lord has given us.
Sol.Edvitta