The Leader’s Destiny
Introduction
1. Text. We have been studying one of the great leadership stories in the Bible. This story, found in Matthew 20:20-28, touches on many vital issues in leadership. I will read the entire passage and focus this lesson on verse 23.
20 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to Him with her sons, bowing down, and making a request of Him.
21 And He said to her, “What do you wish?” She said to Him, “Command that in Your kingdom these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right and one on Your
left.”
22 But Jesus answered and said, “You do not know what you are asking for. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?” They said to Him, “We are able.”
23 He said to them, “My cup you shall drink; but to sit on My right and on My left, this is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by My Father.”
24 And hearing this, the ten became indignant with the two brothers.
25 But Jesus called them to Himself, and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them.
26 It is not so among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant,
27 and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave;
28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (NAS)
2. Topic. The phrase in verse 23, “for whom it has been prepared by My Father,” stirs our curiosity and gives us our topic for today, “The Leader’s Destiny.” A leader’s understanding of his place and role often includes a sense of destiny.
Writing about leaders in general, Tead said, “The greatest leaders have been sustained by a belief that that they were in some way instruments of destiny, that they tapped hidden reserves of power, that they truly lived as they tried to live in harmony with some greater, more universal purpose or intention in the world” (264). Surely, this statement may be applied to Christian leaders as well as others.
When we apply this to Christian leaders, several questions arise, such as does God have a plan for some people, does He have a plan for everyone, how detailed is the plan, are there alternatives in the plan, does the plan permit freedom, what can we do to fulfill the plan, and do the answers to these questions apply to greatness? These are significant and searching questions. Our answers will be influenced by our views on free will and predestination.
3. Preview. Today, we will discuss four key points which should be used as encouragement to leaders as they fulfill their destiny.
- Controlled freedom
- Controlled freedom applied to leadership positions.
- Controlled freedom applied to greatness.
- A suggested course of action.
Controlled Freedom
When we discuss destiny, we must consider freedom and determinism or, to put it another way, man’s free will and God’s sovereignty. After discussing the problem and the Biblical emphasis, I will present my view. I have called this controlled freedom.
1. The Problem. Both theology and philosophy grapple with the concepts of freedom and determinism. Many thinkers have supported the idea of freedom or free will. Herman Horne, for example, held that the will is man’s mind, or entire consciousness, in action and that the will is free because the mind is free. By directing its attention, the mind can select the strongest motive. Determinism, on the other hand, is the view that the universe operates by the laws of cause and effect and that all things are determined. When held in its extreme form, this view allows for no freedom. Similarly, when freedom is overemphasized, the role of determinism is not recognized.
Both determinism and freedom view have their strengths and weaknesses. The advantages of determinism are that they readily account for heredity and environment, the foreknowledge of God, and prophecy. This view, however, faces the problems of what to say about freedom, responsibility, and personal initiative. Views that emphasize freedom have the advantage in treating free will, responsibility, and initiative. They confront problems with regard to heredity and environment, foreknowledge, and prophecy. Because of these strengths and weaknesses, a certain amount of tension between the views always remains.
2. Biblical Emphasis. The Bible emphasizes both free will and the sovereignty of God. Sometimes, we can find both emphases side-by-side in the same verse of Scripture. For example, we read in Philippians 2:12-13, “So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” We are to work out our salvation, but it is God who is at work in you.
The Bible teaches both the sovereignty of God and the free will of man without attempting to fully reconcile these truths. Packer writes,
“What the Bible does is to assert both truths side by side in the strongest and most unambiguous terms as two ultimate facts; this, therefore, is the position that we must take in our own thinking. C. H. Spurgeon was once asked if he could reconcile these two truths to each other. ‘I wouldn’t try,’ he replied; ‘I never reconcile friends.’ Friends?–yes friends. This is the point we have to grasp” (Packer 35).
3. My View. Along with others, I do not believe that we can fully reconcile freedom and determinism. A part of the problem is that we approach the subject with a finite mind and from a human point of view. Free will and determinism are fully reconciled only in the mind of God. Freedom and determinism are paradoxical to us, but they are completely friendly in God’s mind.
Even though we cannot fully reconcile freedom and determinism, we can observe and accept the Biblical data with regard to this issue. It helps me to put all this data under the general heading of a term that I have coined, controlled freedom. I say “freedom” because the universe is alive, full of interaction, and includes freedom and moral responsibility. Then “controlled” is used to express that God is in charge and has ultimate control over all things. This view, like others, does not fully reconcile free will and determinism, but it does give us some practical handles to cope with the two truths and apply them to our lives.
The starting point of controlled freedom is that God “works all things after the counsel of His will” (Eph. 1:11). Given this, the next step is to determine how He works. From our perspective some things are undetermined, other things are progressively determined, and still others are predetermined. Among the things that God has predetermined is to allow some things to be progressively determined and others to be undetermined. In all things God is at work! I say “from our perspective” because this is the only way we can see them. We are not God and cannot see them completely as He sees them.
The strength of controlled freedom is that it accepts the Biblical data at face value without attempting to reconcile every point. Critics would ask, how can some things be determined without all things being determined? We must not overlook the fact that God does the miraculous. He can bypass time and preconditions to create what He wants. For example, He could create a tree with rings in it! Our finite minds cannot fully comprehend this. Even though the concept of controlled freedom does not fully escape all philosophical problems, it is a helpful way to include all the data of the Bible.
4. Destiny. Now, we can ask the question, “What is destiny?” By our own choices we shape much of our lives. The word destiny, however, takes us beyond our own choices to those things which are being progressively determined and which have been predetermined. The most important factor in all this is that we are living in harmony with the will of God. By living in accordance with His will, we relate to a purpose and plan far greater than ourselves.
Controlled Freedom Applied to Positions
1. Pre-allocated Positions. Some positions, both in heaven and on earth, are already allocated. I say “allocated” in order to avoid, to some degree, the controversy over foreknowledge and predestination. God has made a decision as to who will occupy some places of leadership. Because the timing of the allocation may be during one’s life, we may also include those allocations that are progressively determined.
a. In Heaven. Jesus said, “… but to sit on My right and on My left, this is not mine to give, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by My Father” (verse 23). Concerning this statement, Lenski writes, “Who will occupy these seats Jesus does not intimate; perhaps this knowledge was withheld from Jesus during his state of humiliation. Hence we cannot be certain whether only two will occupy those seats; perhaps more will be seated there” ( 789).
Even though the occupants of some positions are pre-determined, we should not overlook the human aspect of their exaltation. Erdman comments, “The rewards indeed may be given at last by Christ, but they will not be given independently of real desert; for time and eternity, the highest places in His Kingdom are prepared for those by whom they are deserved” (162). The concept of destiny does not exclude human responsibility.
b. On Earth. A study of Biblical leaders reveals that some of them were either pre-determined or progressively determined to take their roles in leadership. They were chosen by God for special roles in the kingdom of God.
David became king over Israel when he was thirty years old and reigned for forty years. At one point in his reign, according to II Samuel 5:12, “David realized that the Lord had established him as king over Israel, and that He had exalted his kingdom for the sake of His people Israel.” Here, David realizes that He is, indeed, living according to God’s will. God has placed him in a place of leadership.
We think also of Jeremiah. Here is the word of the Lord spoken to Jeremiah, the prophet, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations” (Jer. 1:5). It could be argued that God’s appointment was based on foreknowledge. This softens, to some degree, the idea of predestination. However, this would only change the way in which the determination was made. It was still known to God, in advance, that Jeremiah would be a prophet.
Another example is John the Baptist. Zacharias and Elizabeth had no children, so Zacharias prayed for a child. The angel of the Lord appeared to Zacharias and assured him that Elizabeth would bear a son. The angel instructed Zacharias to call the son John and said, “For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he will drink no wine or liquor; and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, while yet in his mother’s womb. And he will turn back many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God” (Luke 1:15-16).
The apostle Paul affords us another example. In Galatians 1:15-16 Paul wrote, “But when He who had set me apart, even from my mother’s womb, and called me through His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles.” Throughout his ministry, Paul had this sense of destiny about his ministry. No doubt this sense of destiny sustained him through many difficult times.
2. Unallocated Positions. Other positions appear not to be allocated; that is, we fill them through very human processes such as elections. Of course, this does not exclude the activity of God in guiding us as we vote. It just moves the selection process in the direction of human activity.
As an example, let us observe the early church making a choice of someone to take the place of Judas. In Acts 1:23-26 we read:
23 And they put forward two men, Joseph called Barsabbas (who was also called Justus), and Matthias.
24 And they prayed, and said, “Thou, Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, show which one of these two Thou hast chosen
25 to occupy this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.”
26 And they drew lots for them, and the lot fell to Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles. (NAS)
We have another example in the selection of the first deacons in the early church. The story of this event is found in Acts 6:1-6.
1 Now at this time while the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint arose on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food.
2 And the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables.
3 “But select from among you, brethren, seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task.
4 “But we will devote ourselves to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.”
5 And the statement found approval with the whole congregation; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch.
6 And these they brought before the apostles; and after praying, they laid their hands on them. (NAS)
3. God’s Control. Whatever process God uses, or allows, He is in control. The freedom that we have operates within the context of God’s control. Speaking through Isaiah, the prophet, God said (Is. 46:9-10):
9 “Remember the former things long past, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like me,
10 Declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things which have not been done, saying, ‘My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure’.” (NAS)
Yes, God is in control. This principle applies to being put into positions of leadership, just as it does to the rest of life. We can learn much from Psalm 75:4-7:
4 “I said to the boastful, ‘Do not boast,’ and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up the horn;
5 Do not lift up your horn on high, do not speak with insolent pride.'”
6 For not from the east, nor from the west, nor from the desert comes exaltation;
7 But God is the Judge; He puts down one, and exalts another. (NAS)
Sometimes God reveals our destiny to us ahead of time, but very often He does not. Because He does not, we simply have to learn to trust Him. He will lead us down the path He has in mind for us.
Controlled Freedom Applied to Greatness
1. Undetermined. When we speak of greatness, we have the sense that this attribute is open to all. When Jesus responded to Salome and the disciples concerning their desires, He spoke in indeterminate terms. His remarks were addressed to “whoever wishes to become great among you.” The word whoever opens the door to anyone. We can conclude that everyone, who would meet Christ’s criterion, can be great.
2. The Open Position. Jesus made service the essential criterion of greatness. This means that servant is itself a position. We have the position of servant when we serve! Sometimes the position of servant is not crowded with applicants. The “position open” sign is in heaven’s window beckoning us to apply. Even though the position is open, we can still have a sense of destiny in filling it. We are sons of God and are chosen to be His servants.
3. The Paradox. Paradoxically, service often leads to positions of leadership. Some Swedish psychologists found that leaders were chosen from among those who filled at least two important functions (Wertheimer 144):
- They contributed to the group’s achieving certain goals.
- They contributed to the satisfaction of the group’s emotional needs.
Sometimes group goals dominated, but at other times the emotional needs were more important. Thus, serving the needs of people clearly has an impact on being chosen for leadership.
A Course of Action
Given the impact of both the human and the divine upon us as leaders, what should we do? What should be our course of action?
1. Build on Closeness. We should build on the basis that God has chosen us for our place in the Kingdom. Jesus said, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask of the Father in My name, He may give it to you.” As chosen vessels of God, we will bear the fruit of righteousness, and also we will be fruitful in our witness. Many will come to know Christ through our witness. With the knowledge that God has chosen us, we can serve wherever He puts us.
2. Give Priority to Service. Let us give the highest attention to service. Service in the kingdom of God has priority. It is the element without which we cannot be great! Through service we will help the group to get the job done and we will contribute to their emotional well-being and health. When we do this, our service will be well-received.
3. Watch Destiny Unfold! As we serve, we will be able to watch our destiny unfold. My favorite verse of Scripture is Proverbs 16:9, “The mind of man plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.” Sometimes we fret as we plan. We grow impatient to see what our destiny will be. Some people, even in middle age, will ask, “What am I going to be when I grow up?” With God’s help we can relax in Him and watch our destiny unfold before our eyes. God is painting our lives on the canvas even as we watch.
4. Accept Our Role. As growing leaders, we always will sense some tension between the role we now have and the role we may expect, or hope, to have. Within the bounds of this tension, we can come to an acceptance of our role which will allow us to be filled with joy and enthusiasm in our work. We need not answer every question about the future in order to perform well what God has given us to do today
Conclusion
1. The Cross. According to most versions, Jesus exclaimed on the cross, “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” (Mt. 27:46). Without detracting from the authenticity and meaning of this exclamation, I would like to call attention to the translation of Lamsa which is based on the Aramaic text. According to Lamsa, Jesus cried out, “My God, my God, for this I was spared!” Or, “My God, my God, This was my destiny!” This translation, too, captures a great truth. Jesus was destined to die upon the cross to atone for our sins. Because He did, He leads us as no one else can!
2. God’s Will. We must know that we are in God’s will. When we do, we can endure all things, look forward to the future with great joy, and expect that God will be faithful to reward us according to His riches. We are in His hands and His hands are good! Let us, therefore, fulfill our destiny! When God wants us to lead, let us lead!
For Further Reading
Erdman, Charles R. The Gospel of Matthew. Philadelphia: The Westminster Press, 1948.
Lenski, R. C. H. The Interpretation of St. Matthew’s Gospel. Columbus: The Wartburg Press, 1943.
Packer, J. I. Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God. London: Inter-Varsity Fellowship, 1961.
Tead, Ordway. The Art of Leadership. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc., 1935.
Wertheimer, Michael; Bjorkman, Mats; Lundberg, Ingvar; and Magnusson, David. Psychology: A Brief Introduction. Glenview: Scott, Foresman and Company, 1971.
© Copyright 2002. GMF