Leadership Thought: Who Was That Man Picking Up Sticks?

Dear Friends,

During the American Revolution, a man in civilian clothes rode past a group of soldiers repairing a small defensive barrier. Their leader was shouting instructions but making no attempt to help them. Asked why he wasn’t helping by another soldier who was riding by, he retorted with great dignity, “Sir, I am a Corporal.” The stranger apologized, dismounted, and preceded to help the exhausted soldiers. The job done, he turned to the Corporal and said, “Corporal, next time you have a job like this and not enough men to do it, go to your commander- in- chief, and I will come and help you again.” With that George Washington got back on his horse and rode off. (Taken from the Internet)

Jesus reminds us that," the Son of Man came  not to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).  When we give Jesus his rightful place as Lord of our lives, His Lordship will be expressed in the way we serve others. Therefore, one of the best ways we can demonstrate our love for God is by showing love for our fellow man. We demonstrate love for others by helping them, by sharing their problems, and by doing what we can for them.

Paul was under arrest, a prisoner sailing under guard on a Roman ship that ran aground off the island of Malta. After swimming to shore, the first thing Paul does is gather some sticks. Paul could have said I told you a storm would happen. I told you the boat was going to go down. I told you that all would be saved, and so “that makes me the big kahuna.” But that is not what he did. He saw someone had kindled a small fire and realizing he could help keep others warm, “he gathered a bundle of sticks” (Acts  28:3). Taken from John Courson, Application Commentary, p. 855.

Servanthood in never a 9-5 job, for a servant is always on duty. Servanthood is an attitude. It is the mark of a leader, and I am sure it was one of the significant marks that made George Washington the leader he was.

Service is the emblem of  great leaders. Service, and not status, a towel and not a title are the authentic marks of the one who would follow Jesus.

Let us pray that the Lord makes us conscious of how we might fulfill our role as His servants, even it means doing something as small and menial as ‘picking up sticks.’ And when we do, maybe someone will say about us, “There was something about him/her that reminds me of Jesus.”

Yours in faith and friendship,

Tom