Lenten Learnings - “The greatest will be the servant”

Lenten Learnings is a weekly reflection from a member of the leadership team at the Abbey on Lovers Lane.

The scripture today is for Tuesday of the Second Week in Lent, Matthew 23:1-12.

Our guest writer is Jeff Wier, a member of the Abbey Council.

The Pharisees craved prestige.  They went to great lengths in scholarship and religious observance to get and maintain status.  They used their religious position to satisfy their human needs.  But seeking prestige diverts attention from focusing on important things, like caring for others.  Jesus uses the Pharisees as an example of what we shouldn’t be.  He talks about a culture that is completely different than the Pharisee’s prestige culture.  Jesus tells us about a culture where the greatest amongst us will be a servant.

When I started working, I thought all companies were pretty much the same.  After many years, I realized that there are huge differences in corporate cultures and that corporate culture really matters.  I was very fortunate to work in a company that had a great culture.  There was little backbiting.  People worked as a team.  Because of that culture, that company survived a horrible downturn, when many of its competitors did not. Our CEO drove the culture.  He cared about his people and didn’t show off.  He sacrificed his well-being for the company and his team.  He led by example.

When I interviewed people who wanted to join the company, I always told a story about when we were moving offices.  We had a load of big plastic floor mats that were in the way of something important that needed to be moved right then.  Everyone was out of the office or in meetings, so the CEO moved the floormats, something most CEOs wouldn’t deign to do.  He did it without being asked or complaining.  We all knew no one was too important to do what needed to be done and why trying to be important wasn’t right.  That’s why it was a great company.

Jesus is telling us the same thing about what our Christian culture ought to be.  It’s not about status or prestige, like it was for the Pharisees.  It’s about letting go of our desire to look important and focusing on serving and doing what needs to be done for the Kingdom of God.  Jesus leads the way.  He’s looking for us to follow, to adopt to the Christian culture.  He wants us to stop worrying about how we are perceived and focus on taking care of others.