The Apron and The Robe
JPCC Sermon : The Apron and The Robe Ps. Jose Carol (JPCC Online Service 24 Oktober 2021)
Luke 22:27-30
"Who is more important? The one who sits or the one who serves?"
An apron is a symbol of a servant, and a robe represents a king.
The Lord really desires for us, His children, to be heads and not tails,
to be at the top and not at the bottom. But things don't always turn out that way.
But the challenge is this: there are many kings who rule without a servant heart.
Mark 10:42-43a (NLV)
For that reason, Servanthood is more frequently being taught in Leadership.
There are many injustice, calamities, and difficulties happen in this world, as a consequence of leadership in the absence of a servant heart.
Aside from a king who leads without a servant-heart, another challenge remains: a servant who serves without a king's mentality.
Nurturing a servant-heart in a leader or a king is just as challenging as building leadership or a leader mindset— a king's mentality—in a servant.
That is the challenge we are facing.
What is the Law of Distinction?
the difference between the best and the rest, in many cases, is so small but yet the reward is so big.
Many people are familiar with Michael Phelps, who holds the all-time records for Olympic gold medals in swimming— but no one remembers the swimmer who lost to him by a hundredth of a second.
Hence, the distinction I wish to see developed in your life is not based on what you already know but rather on what you will do which will set you apart from others in the world the Lord has placed you in.
That is the law of distinction. And I hope that will be the distinction that makes you stand out wherever the Lord places you in.
If you are a parent, how would you lead and raise your children, so that they may eventually be kings with a servant heart, so that they may eventually be kings with a servant heart, and when they start working and serving, they possess a king's mentality.
And this principle applies to you whether as a company leader, an organization leader, here are the 4 principles:
1.Greatness comes from Serving
Mark 10:43 (NIV)
If you want your children to be great, you must train them to serve others. Because serving others will shape their humility.
ie. volunteering
humility is found when we serve others, when we practice serving others.
Humility is the distinction.
Humility will set us apart from other leaders, if you happen to be a leader.
[You'll shine] as a leader, or "king",
when you exemplify humility to serve.
See what we have in 2 Tim 3 if we reverse the characters in the warning:
a leader who loves his neighbours,
a merciful leader,
a merciful king,
a king who does not slander
a king who despise violence,
a compassionate king,
a leader or a king, who is a lover of the good.
You can imagine what kind of impact such leadership will bring.
Similarly, being a servant who serves with a king's mindset will shape our humility. 2 Timothy 3 also says,
a servant who serves,
puts his own needs aside,
he is not selfish,
he is not a gold digger,
he is not arrogant or likes to bluff.
So, as leaders, we are obligated to provide as many as opportunities as we can for those under our leadership to serve and practice servanthood.
2.Think more about others, think less about yourself.
We must learn to put others' needs ahead of your own is surely a priority of a servant.
A servant supposedly puts other people first and do not asked to be prioritized. However this will be a very important practice for a king, a leader.
This also applies in your home and family as well.
However this will be a very important practice for a king, a leader.
Since a king is usually prioritized and is supposed to be.
So in our daily life, even though this is something trivial, this behaviour is very important in building our character as a Servant-King.
I often pay attention to what happen during a large family dinner.
Usually I take notice on the older people, whose children are also present there, and watch how these small things happen during dinner.
What do I pay attention to?
How far they would go to put other people first.
When they see the meal is served, especially if it is their favorite meal, that may come in small portion or quantity, the most expensive meal on the table, and I take notice on who takes the most portion, without any consideration if other people have had their shares yet. It is a simple matter.
But the truth tells us that it is impossible for us to expect for great things if we are not found to be faithful in doing small things. Such as putting other people first at the dining table.
As leaders, how are we going to put our teams need ahead, sacrificing our own needs for the need of many, if we don't train ourselves in small things in our lives, right?
People under our leadership need to feel that power is for service.
It is not just a slogan we say, but the power entrusted to us truly has to be felt as an advantage for the people that we lead.
They have to be able to feel that everything we do is about and for them, whom we lead.
People under our leadership have to be able to feel that they are being led, not demanded. They have to be able to feel that their lives are becoming better, because we bring them to a better place.
Psalm 78:72 (NIV)
So a heart with integrity and skillful hands are two things that must work together at the same time in a leader's life.
John Maxwell in his book about leadership that he wrote.
That is why, we have to have the head that thinks of the need of people we lead, a heart that loves people sincerely, and skilled hands in leading and training them to do things they need to do, as what we have learned.
In this case, putting other people first.
People will forget what you say.
But they will never forget what they feel because of what you do.
That is a very valuable lesson.
3. You lead by inspiration, not domination
I am quoting from Hanna's last book,
She said that it only takes a pinch of salt in a dish, to taste the salt.
If there is too much salt, then the flavor will be unbalanced and the dish will taste bad.
Sometimes it only takes a small action to make a big change.
A small act of kindness we do may change other people's course of life.
A small gesture we make may be able to alleviate someone else's suffering.
A small but wise piece of advice can help someone become a better person.
Do not belittle the small things we do.
A simple thing we do or say may have a great impact on people around us or in our surroundings.
I frequently hear people say,
"Oh, my job is unimportant. I haven't had a high-level position in which I could wield significant influence.
I only serve, my position and job description are unimportant."
Once more, we can inspire wherever we are.
In fact, when we serve, our attitude and the way we serve, and the best we can give when we serve, can influence, larger environment than what we think, what we did.
Now, when someone bakes cake, a little salt is often added to the dough.
I found that when we're making something sweet, a cake for example, by adding a little salt to the recipe,
it will balance the taste, the sweet taste, become more delicious because the salty flavor from the salt will enhance the taste of the entire dish without changing the sweet flavor to be salty.
Everything we do and venture are aimed to improve our lives in all aspects.
A servant would highly want his life to be better one day with higher position. However, it would be great if we, in parallel, also improve the lives of people around us.
The jobs we create, innovative products we make, songs we write, or other things we produce can provide convenience and happiness and comfort for the surrounding environment.
Insight or great ideas that we provide may become source of inspiration for others to produce an outcome that will also improve their lives.
The joy we feel when we see others succeed knowing that we're part of it is an invaluable reward.
Therefore, be inspiring instead of dominating.
Never take lightly wherever the Lord puts you—saying, "Nah, I only work as.. whatever the position may be."
Because that place, the trust, the position the way you serve, when you give inspiration it will change many lives, amen?
4. To empower instead of taking advantage.
A king who's taking advantage is common and we read it before but a king who truly empowers, is impressive.
Romans 15:2 (NIV)
In other words, let's train our lives to create joy for others, to care about others' interest, others' welfare, to strengthen others, to build others up.
Mark 2:1-5 (NIV)
Jesus didn't just come down to earth to serve us, but He also gave His life to redeem you and me, to restore us to our original position and calling, to become His children.
So for you, leaders, let's follow Jesus's example.
Meanwhile, for each of you who are in a position where you've been feeling inadequate and still powerless, maybe even unworthy, know that Lord Jesus had fully paid off everything for you and me— which qualifies us all to become His children.
So, regardless of your current condition, never forget your true identity. You are the children of The King of kings.
Remember, you are the children of The King of kings. You can accomplish all these 4 principles and lessons, regardless of where you're currently at in life.
If you wear your apron well, you're serving well, you don't need to worry, because it’s just a matter of time, that the robe and crown will find you. And the Lord will entrust you with greater things.
However, if you realize that you're in a leading position— you’re wearing this robe and crown, already a ruling king wherever that may be— but you realize that you don't yet have a servant's heart, you’re not wearing this apron underneath.
What can you do? You can take off your robe and crown and be ready to serve; use your apron and serve with humility, all the while staying true to your identity—you're The King's child. And if you're willing to do so, you are building a strong life foundation.
Choosing to wear an apron is our part to take because the Lord can't force us to do so. You and I have to choose to serve, to establish humility in our lives.
However, being promoted to become heads and not tails is part of the Lord's doing in our lives. It's just a matter of time until the Lord entrust us with higher position;
It's just a matter of time until the Lord entrust us with higher position; just a matter of time until the Lord entrusts you to be king, gives you greater position and trust, and places the crown in your lives and mine.
And know, it's the Lord's will for you're The King's children and He wanted you to become the light that the world can see wherever you are, so that the world can see your good deeds and glorify your Heavenly Father.
