Why it matters: How we see our role makes a huge difference. It becomes a worldview of sorts. It is lens that clarifies our minute-by-minute functioning. We need to get it right. Jesus demands no less.

Here is how Jesus frames our role. It is not what we think. We are not to be first, even as servant leaders. We are always to be last. We are not training to be leaders. We are training to learn how to serve others. All the time. Every day. Every hour. That is, it. That is the main thing about the main thing. That is how we live out our faith at work.

When they received their pay, they began to complain to the landowner: ‘These last men put in one hour, and you made them equal to us who bore the burden of the day’s work and the burning heat.’

“He replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I’m doing you no wrong. Didn’t you agree with me on a denarius? Take what’s yours and go. I want to give this last man the same as I gave you. Don’t I have the right to do what I want with what is mine? Are you jealous because I’m generous?’ “So the last will be first, and the first last.

Matthew 20:11-16

And here it is again from Jesus in another context. Peter has a sense of entitlement. He frames it as a question, but his intent is clear.

Then Peter responded to him, “See, we have left everything and followed you. So, what will there be for us?

Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, in the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.  And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields because of my name will receive a hundred times more and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.

Matthew 19:27-30

Jesus is clear. Here James and John want special treatment. Our role is to be servants and slave. Note, no talk of being leaders or servant-leaders.

When the ten disciples heard this, they became indignant with the two brothers. Jesus called them over and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in high positions act as tyrants over them. It must not be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Matthew 20:25-28

This story in Luke may the clincher. Who is the greatest, the disciples wanted to know? It is the servant. Not a “servant leader”. A leader is the one who serves. A leader is always last. That is the Way of Jesus.

A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest.  And he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors.  But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves.  For whom is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves.

Luke 22:24-30

From the example of Jesus himself. Jesus becomes the servant.

When Jesus had washed their feet and put on his outer clothing, he reclined again and said to them, “Do you know what I have done for you? You call me Teacher and Master—and you are speaking rightly, since that is what I am. So if I, your Master and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done for you. “Truly I tell you, a servant is not greater than his master, and a messenger is not greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, you are happy [blessed] if you do them.

John 13:12-17

No one, in the Way of Jesus, is to be called a leader.

“But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ [leader] because you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers and sisters. Do not call anyone on earth your father, because you have one Father, who is in heaven. You are not to be called instructors [leaders] either, because you have one Instructor, the Messiah. The greatest among you will be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Matthew 23:8-12

Our goal, given to us by Jesus, is to be a faithful and wise servant. If we are fortunate to manage others, our goal, at work, is to serve them. We get to serve our boss and co-workers. That is how we demonstrate our love at work.

“Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master has put in charge of his household, to give them food at the proper time? ⁴⁶ Happy is that servant whom the master finds doing his job when he comes. ⁴⁷ Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. ⁴⁸ But if that wicked servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delayed,’ ⁴⁹ and starts to beat his fellow servants, and eats and drinks with drunkards, ⁵⁰ that servant’s master will come on a day he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know. ⁵¹ He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Matthew 24:45-51

Good news:  Jesus has expectations for us in our work, it is one of being servants. We get to make decisions. We can decide to follow the way of Jesus at work and serve others or not. Jesus gives us the power of the Holy Spirit at work to serve. Jesus teaches the way of humility at work. Jesus shows us the way of kindness and mercy.

“The man who had received one talent also approached and said, ‘Master, I know you. You’re a harsh man, reaping where you haven’t sown and gathering where you haven’t scattered seed. So I was afraid and went off and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’ “His master replied to him, ‘You evil, lazy servant! If you knew that I reap where I haven’t sown and gather where I haven’t scattered, then you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and I would have received my money back with interest when I returned. “ ‘So take the talent from him and give it to the one who has ten talents. For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have more than enough. But from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. And throw this good-for-nothing servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Matthew 25:14-30