Use Influence to Serve the People beneath It
Use Influence to Serve the People beneath It: an original Matthew 20:25-28 KJV devotional with biblical context and practical application.
“But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
Matthew 20:25-28 KJV
Authority can become a way to make other people carry our preferences. Jesus directs His disciples toward a different pattern. Greatness in His service is measured through care for others, and His own saving mission provides the fullest expression of that purpose.
Read the passage carefully
The ransom He gives is unique. We cannot redeem sinners through our sacrifice or replace His finished work. We can follow His example of service within the responsibilities entrusted to us. A leader still needs to make decisions, correct wrong, and maintain order. The question is whose good those actions are serving and whether power is being used truthfully.
If you hold authority, listen to the people affected by it. Give clear instructions, share credit, accept responsibility for mistakes, and avoid placing unnecessary burdens upon those with less freedom to refuse. Welcome appropriate accountability. A position should not become protection from the standards applied to everyone else. If you serve under authority, fulfill rightful duties while seeking help when commands become dishonest, harmful, or unlawful.
Carry this truth into the day
Christ's grace changes the meaning of influence. We no longer need every responsibility to prove our importance because our deepest worth is received in Him. Look for a practical act that makes another person's work or care easier without drawing attention to yourself. Explain a process, remove an obstacle, or give someone the resources needed to succeed. Jesus did not call service an optional kindness added after real leadership was finished. He placed it at the heart of greatness among His people. The title may identify your role, but the way you use that role reveals whether the people under its reach are being treated as neighbors to love or tools for your own advantage.
Why the setting matters
Jesus contrasts worldly patterns of ruling with greatness expressed through service. He grounds the teaching in His own mission to give His life a ransom for many.
Continue in the Word
Read further: Matthew 20 in the King James Bible.