Yesterday I attended a Korean church service at which I had been asked to give a word of encouragement. The occasion was the ordination of two new elders and the honouring of a retiring elder. The auditorium was packed. The music was great. I was able to tell the congregation that I had recognised some Korean words: “amen”, “Yerusalem”, “Martin Lloyd Jones”, “Willow Creek” – the only ones I picked out.
At one key point in the service some small children came to the front with wreaths. The two new elders and the retiring elder had to bow low to enable these small children to put the wreaths around their necks. I was able to make a point of this in my word of encouragement: Leaders must learn to bow low, very low, if they want to be honoured by God:
All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time (1 Peter 5:5b-6).
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up (James 4:10).
Consider how low the greatest leader of all had to bow. See him bowing low with a towel around his waist as he washed his disciples’ feet, prefiguring the humility necessitated to effect the total washing we all so desperately need. See him bowing low under the weight of the cruel cross.
May all of us involved in Christian leadership learn to bow low.
Posted July 27, 2009
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