THE TRUTH ABOUT CHRISTIAN UNITY

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Virus 5

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Avarice for Leadership

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“Avarice”: ‘greedy hunger for position, title, power’.

Introduction
This virus makes leaders fight to stay in charge even when God and the people are saying “step down”.

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It is the love of title, not service. Jesus warned against it in Matt. 20:25, saying in Matt. 20:26 (KJV): “whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister”.

 

God’s leaders do not grab position. They serve, “not by compulsion, but willingly... nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being ensamples to the flock” (1 Pet. 5:2-3).

 

Objectives
By the end of this virus, every learner will:

 

(1) Know servanthood is not shame; it is an honour to serve under godly leaders.

 

Heb. 5:4 And no man takes this honour to himself.

 

(2) Learn to honour rightly. Say “sir”, “senior” freely. It is Bible language, not slavery. “In honour giving preference to one another.” (Rom. 12:10)

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(3) See leadership as imitation, not command.   A leader does first, then calls others to follow.    “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.” (1 Cor. 11:1)

 

(4) Reject greed for position. Leaders who cling to the saddle when sheep cry “leave” are not led by God. God’s will is John 10:11 which states, “the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep”.

 

Presentation

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1. Serving Under Others Is Not Defeat
It is not depravity, not shameful, not sinful. Phil. 2:3 says: “in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves”. If someone has shown themselves a “servant-leader” like Christ, it is wisdom to follow them. Even slaves in the New Testament led in some way (Eph. 6:5-6).

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Every human leads somewhere. But we all serve under Christ: “you serve the Lord Christ” (Col. 3:24).

 

2. Leadership is God-Given and Has Levels
Heb. 5:4 says “no man takes this honour unto himself, but he who is called by God”.       
God puts leaders in place (Rom. 13:1).

 

Levels exist: Christ → apostles → elders → sheep (1 Cor. 12:28). That is order, not pride.

 

3. A Real Leader Leads by Example, Not by Force
A ruler shouts commands. A leader lives it first. Phil. 4:9 says “the things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do”. Paul did not just preach “imitate Christ”. He lived it. “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.” (1 Cor. 11:1)

 

4. Great Leaders Make Others Great
“Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” (Matt.5:48 (KJV)) Leadership extends heaven to earth.
A great leader does not force himself on people. He builds them up “for the perfecting of the saints” (Eph. 4:12 (KJV)).

 

Christ protects the sheep even when they give Him nothing back. He laid down His life for us while we were sinners (Rom. 5:8).

 

John 10:14 I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.

 

5. God Never Wants Leaders to Cling to Power When Sheep Cry Out
If the people God gave you are crying “leave”, and you still insist on staying, that is not God’s will. It is avarice.

 

Christ left heaven to serve (Phil. 2:7). Any leader who will not leave position for the sheep’s good is not following Him.

 

Evaluation Questions & Answers​

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1. Is it shameful to call another believer “sir” or “senior”?

   • No. It is servanthood language (Rom. 13:7). Jesus washed feet but still called disciples “friends” (John 15:14). Honour is not pride.

2. What makes a man a true leader, not just a ruler?

   • A ruler commands. A leader imitates Christ first, then says “follow me” (1 Cor. 11:1). He does, then teaches.

3. What should a leader do when the people he leads cry for him to leave?

   • Obey God and leave. Clinging to position when sheep suffer is avarice, not service. God removed Saul when he disobeyed (1 Sam.15:23).

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​​Prayer

Father, break avarice for position from our hearts. Make us servant-leaders like Jesus  who came “to serve, and to give his life”. Teach us to honour those You set over us, and to step down when Your Spirit says “enough”. Let no man cling to the saddle when sheep cry out. Make us great by making others great, for Your glory. In Jesus’s name, Amen.