SERVANT-HOOD: LEADERSHIP TURNED INSIDE OUT!

PREAMBLE:
I am really sorry, but please, I want to ask you a question: How many times have you gone to the library or the bookstore to pick up or buy a book on “servant hood” or ‘’how to be a good servant’’? You probably haven’t, seen or bought one yourself.
People will rather prefer and readily pounce on any written matter on “How to Be an Effective Leader.”
This is where many get it all wrong – serving others sincerely is the route to becoming a good, effective or super leader.
Servant hood is leadership turned inside out.
THE LEADING LEADER
True leaders are hard to find. The world is not inundated with excellent leaders. Africa is a continent in dire need of leaders. The Church is plenteous of weak and pretentious men and women masquerading as leaders. Fortunately the Church is the most opportune of having a perfect leader in the person of Jesus Christ, who bequeathed and left a legacy of words and deeds to be imbibed by His followers and admirers.
A LEADER: Defined
Thoughtfully, the word leader has its equivalent in almost all the languages and dialects of the world. What is the meaning of the English word LEADER? The dictionary defines it as ''A person who leads a group of people etc; A person or thing that leads''.
Having understood the word LEADER; it naturally leads me to a question “who is a True Leader?
THE TRUE LEADER
To be a good leader you must have been prepared in the secret and desire to take the lead and forefront. I believe that reluctant leaders never make good leaders, because they lack genuine motivation, insight and foresight. Little David’s bold dash towards the menacing and awesome Goliath, was a keen demonstration of the leadership qualities in him. David showed initiative, courage, guts, confidence, skill, determination, motivation and loyalty, not to man but to God. All qualities found abundantly in excellent leaders. For one to take up that mantle – you must be prepared and desire to lead.
LEADERSHIP SKILLS
“It is the ability to influence others to perform”. Nearly every individual has the ability to do it, that is, influence another individual. Before God created man, God had purposed man to be a leader. He (God) fashioned and equipped man during and after creation to carry out His mandate and intent. And that is, to be a LEADER holding forth on earth. In Genesis 1:28 you will find out that God enabled man to be “fruitful, to multiply, to subdue and to have dominion”, tools without which the mandate from God would have been defeated and the ability of man to lead will be futile.
LEADERSHIP CONTINUITY
At some point in your life, as you grow and progress, you sharpen your leadership skills and express your leadership skills; you learn and improve upon your leadership skills, getting ready for the next challenge level and responsibilities that comes your way.
Every man is a leader in his own right. You are first a leader of yourself, perhaps your siblings or friends, your spouse or family, your colleagues, kindred or community and then on and on.
However, genuine leadership is predicated on humility and a strong desire to empty oneself for others. These are very rare combination to be found to the full in men to propel them to attaining true leadership. What you may want to call “A natural born leader” but I call “A natural bred leader.”
LEADERSHIP: THE BANE OF AFRICA
I was born in Africa, bred in Africa, schooled and trained in Africa. I am an African. I am an African who early in life was not satisfied with any given status quo, who realized that there was something of certain and intrinsic value that was missing or not found in copious quantity and where minutely available was somehow viciously attacked with the intent of wiping away any trace of its presence.
I found out that Africa and Africans are at the mercy of men and women who have made a mockery of God’s intent and purpose; that is, to offer the world and creation good leadership anchored on the ethos of service and reverence to God. Africa lacks leadership; Africa is in dire need of LEADERS. The biggest result of good and purposeful leadership is ORGANIZATION and PROGRESS.
Africans have lacked to my consternation and sadness, the ability to organize herself at every level and thus progress.
A simple task of organizing oneself whole heartedly and creatively is bungled, dumped and made to appear like an impossible and uphill task for momentary convenience and gratification precipitated by greed, self-centeredness and wickedness.
I declare to post independent Africa that any action that is not geared towards collective progress and well being, no matter how laudable and grandiose, it is anti-human. Any intent and action that is devoid of insight, foresight and perception is plain bondage for the asking.
African leaders have led Africans for decades on these myopic basis. Dehumanizing her people the more and making a mockery of what colonial powers entrenched.
Poverty is rife in Africa, wickedness thrives in Africa, underdevelopment and backwardness in Africa seems to be the norm because there is a grandiose plan to collectively dis-empower and disenfranchise Africans.
Africa is denied by the powers that be the benefit of godly and goodly leadership. Africa has been held tightly by the jugular and viciously by the scrotum; therefore Africa and her people have been incapacitated and her growth arrested from all sides.
Movement is not essentially progress, for decades we have moved from pillar to post. A sad reality indeed.
Africans, who by God’s providence are now located and resident in the massive continent south of Europe and the Middle-East; a continent so rich in all natural resources, despite the plundering of colonial masters, and the endless looting of her ruling class; a continent that is relatively immune from natural disasters such as earthquakes, typhoons, landslides and floods etc recorded constantly in other continents; a continent so blessed, yet, her people have been unable to turn to haven.
Americas, formerly the new world was virgin land sparsely populated by Indian tribes; Australia, New Zea land and the Islands were once wilderness sparsely occupied by Maoris and Aborigines.
Today, they are called developed world; why, because former convicts, fugitives, refugees, religiously persecuted men who relished their freedom offered leadership with vision, purpose and love, thus transforming their lands to a commonwealth for her people.
In Africa, collective purpose, vision and focus is subverted and circumvented for self-purpose, vision and self-focus. The truth is that, Africa is under a rampaging occupation force. Africa seems to be in trouble and my question is “WHO WILL BAIL AFRICA OUT?”
NO EXCUSES
Colonialism, slavery, wars, military dictatorship, civilian sit tight rulers are no excuses for our lack of progress and advancement. Rather they are good reason why Africa should not fail nor slumber. They are reasons for us to be dissatisfied and disenchanted with the status-quo and prompt us to ask pertinent questions that will produce several revelations and insights. The quality of questions will determine the quality of answers.
Africa must move from a position of set back to a position of come back. Africa must recover what was lost; and only restlessness, and hard work embedded in leadership will do this.
Esau, the son of Isaac having lost all (birthright and inheritance), but having just the remnant of his father’s blessings (Genesis 27:21-41), coupled with the gift of restlessness and hard work (i.e. eternal dissatisfaction with the status-quo) moved from a position of set back to the position of a comeback by the time he was meeting his brother, Jacob again (Genesis 33:1-16).
PROPHECY
Africa, thus says the Lord: ‘‘and it shall come to pass when thou shall have dominion, that thou shall break their yoke from off thy neck’’ – Genesis 27:40b.
Every challenge and problem confronting Africa and militating against her progress; problems that are not limited to Africa but somehow appearing indigenous to Africa can be solved and eradicated within a decade.
If Africa is offered true leadership; a leadership that is godly, goodly, purposeful and for the collective progress, well being and advancement of all-where the interest of all is far above self. A leadership that has as its bedrock: service and stewardship to the people. It will not only suffice, but it is a sober heart cry of the continent and her peoples.
LEADERSHIP AND THE CHURCH
The Church of Christ, a body of believers, sanctified by Jesus Christ and aiming towards perfection; a role model of what is good and noble should as a matter of fact no fail to take charge and offer the world true leadership. The world and those outside of the faith of the followers of Jesus Christ somehow, even if they may not admit it, look up to the Church for genuine leadership and whether the Church lives up to her ideals.
But often, what do we have, when the Church needed to take charge or take a stand, it fails, vacillates and disappoints.
I am relieved because the word of God says if and when men are faithless; He (God) remains faithful – for He cannot deny Himself – 2 Timothy 2:15 (paraphrased). The Church is full of pretentious spiritual and flock leaders: leaders who their belly-filling and ego massaging is their goal and god.
Apostle Paul warned us of them “Beware of wolves in sheep clothing destroying and upsetting the faith of some’’ – 2 Timothy 2:18.
When the Church abdicates its role, mediocre and fakes will as a matter of necessity take over and fill the vacuum. They are the obnoxious Church leaders who call Jesus “Lord, Lord” but will not do what He did or say what He did(Luke 6:46).
Jesus stood up to counterfeit mediocre and wicked leaders, calling them exactly what they are “white washed tombs, brood of vipers, workers of iniquity, who will not lift up with a finger a burden; who will not do good but discourage those who want to do good.” Indeed the judgment of God will certainly begin in the Church, because in the justness of God, charity must begin at home.
Those who profane the name and word of God and who create opportunities for God and His family to be derided will pay the hard price. The Church after having the opportunity of being bequeathed life giving leadership precepts and the accomplishing power of the Holy Ghost has no excuse not to deliver copious examples to the world.
LEADERSHIP GOD’S WAY
This is what God says concerning those who lead His way ‘‘… when one rules justly over men, ruling in the fear of God, He dawns on them like the morning light, like the sun shining forth upon a cloudless morning, like rain that makes grass to sprout from the earth’’ – 2 Samuel 23:3-4.Finally on Leadership:
LEADERSHIP GREATEST LESSON
One of the greatest lesson in leadership is the spiritual truth of being trusted in small things and found faithful; therefore such a person can be trusted in greater matters (Luke 16:10-12). It is a law or principle of God that cannot be circumvented, climbed over or side stepped. Even Jesus had to keep faith with the law – Hebrew 12:2, Philippians 2:5-11.
In the final analysis, God has an intent; an irrevocable intent to hand over true riches and unbelievable mind blowing benefits to those who served others diligently and dispensed resources entrusted to them faithfully (Matthew 24:45-47). Such are indeed the people God considers true LEADERS – but actually SERVANTS, because in serving others, they invariably served Him (God).


Bro. Yusuf Rufa’i
Is your Brother and Servant in the Lord
www.ambassadoryusufrufai.blogspot.com
www.redeemedpeople.blogspot.com
Email: yusufrufai2@gmail.com
Tel: +234 80 28 78 28 91