"The Price Of Sitting In The High Seat"

Text: Mark 10:37-38

After a much anticipated return from surgery, Pastor Durham was back to teach us from the word of God. His message was centered on Christian leadership. January 9 was a day of recognition for the leadership at MGBC. He taught from Mark 10:37-38, and the message was called “The Price of Sitting in the High Seat”.

People in leadership can’t be misguided by the perceived glory in their position. There is a high price to pay for effective leadership. The text gives a warning to James and John about this very thing. They were looking for influence, authority, and status. To be a good Christian leader, understand that if you take the challenge, be ready to pay the costs.

The first price to pay is one of personal sacrifice. Any leader that is busy promoting themselves is not at true leader. A good leader should not be thinking, “What can I get out of this?” The question should be “What can I do for you?” Leadership is nothing more than servant-hood. Pastor Durham explained that armor bearers are okay, but that he personally doesn’t need anyone to carry his Bible for him, or open his car door! Christian leaders are here to serve the people. And Jesus is the example that leaders have to follow. He became poor so that we might be rich. Throughout the Bible, Jesus humbled himself. He rode someone else’s horse, borrowed someone else’s cross, and was buried in a borrowed tomb. Leaders should also be good stewards. Their giving of tithes and their church attendance should be examples to the people they are leading.

Rejection is the second price leadership must be willing to pay. Be willing to be misunderstood and rejected; Jesus was! The Jews didn’t receive Jesus with open arms. They beat and whipped him. His own knew him not. If you stay in leadership long enough, you will be crucified like Christ. All leaders will have a “Calvary experience”. No man is fully accepted until he is rejected. Everyone won’t support you, so learn to work with who will work with you! Anytime change is involved, resistance will be a factor. Pastor Durham also taught us that leaders aren’t recognized by their peers, but by future generations. He used the late Reverend K.R. Brewton to illustrate this. When he was alive, his methods may not have been the most popular, but the evidence of his leadership is still being felt at MGBC today, 30 years after his death.

The last price discussed in the message was criticism. No leader is exempt from this. Making decisions and taking direction is often followed by criticism. You can’t please everybody! Everybody doesn’t want church growth. Nehemiah went through this in the Bible days. And like Nehemiah, we have to pray during criticism; pray for your enemies. Stay on the wall like he did. Leaders shouldn’t be discouraged. People that are destructive critics are just jealous.

Despite all of these prices that good leaders will have to pay, the rewards of leadership are great. God will definitely take care of you in your position. Leaders are anointed individuals, and the Bible says that the anointed should not be harmed. Leaders are able to influence, inspire, witness, and motivate people. Leaders point people to God, not themselves. It is often lonely in leadership positions, so a chosen leader needs to be willing to withstand that as well. Are you willing to pay these prices? Can you get your flock to see what you see?

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