Matt's Muzings
Leadership and Emptying Yourself
I have had to play different roles over these last months. I used to be the executive director over the DTS center which put me over all of our DTS's, CDTS's and International DTS's that ran at the YWAM base. (12 of them). In April of one year I felt like I was to run the May DTS. Jeremy was over the DTS as the director so my relationship to him was as a school leader in submission to him as well as his leader.
There were different moments where Jeremy and I had to struggle as we were learning to work together.
One of the early issues was on staffing. He has clear expectations and I had my own desires that seemed to put us at odds. We had some open conversations that were very healthy. In my flesh I wanted to say, "I am your leader. I will decide this the way I want it to be."
I sensed I was being tested. Would I lean into my ‘power' as his leader or would I empty myself of that role and trust the Lord. The next morning, I felt like I was to submit to him and as we talked he felt led to give me space to try some new ideas.
Emptied Himself
As a result of these last months I understand the humility of Jesus in ways that I have never understood before. He was God with all of His vast greatness and glory and yet He emptied himself and served us. I must confess it brings tears to my eyes even as I write this. In some ways, it has not been easy for me and I only took a couple ‘steps' down. He is Infinite and Almighty and was willing to lay it all down, even to the point of death. The humility and love of such a move is beyond words. He gave it all up to put God's image on display in such a way that I could understand.
A scripture has come to life for me in this process.
Phil 2:5-7 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.
We are to have the same attitude in ourselves. It was not just something Jesus did, but it is something we are to model in our lives. If I am to walk this out in my life then:
I can't rely on a ‘power' position to get what I want done.
I have to submit to those over me and trust that all authority is in God's hand.
I cannot strive or focus on ‘my' way, but must lean into what is God's way. In the end His way is all that matters.
I must deal with any fear of man. The fear of man can easily lead me away from a willingness to confront areas where I see there needs to be change. Emptying myself does not mean I don't say what I think and love truth at any cost. It means I enter into a dialogue through love and not power.
I must seek and love humility. If there is any pride, and there is, then I must choose to humble myself and honor those I am called to work with.
This is no easy task but I believe it is one of the most powerful things a leader can do. Empty our self of our pride, false values and positions of power in order to serve others. To love truth and enter into dialogue with others and come to a place of unity that truly honors God.
My prayer is that you would join me in finding ways to honor Jesus in each day that he might increase as we decrease