選擇服務人，而不是被服務
By Ken Korkow
幾年前，僕人領導的風潮吹進了企業和專業的領域裡。對某些人來說，這無疑是一個矛盾的代名詞。領導者理應當被服務不是嗎？但是僕人領導的作者羅伯․格林里夫(Robert K. Greenleaf)卻說，高成就的領導者是服務他們領導的人。羅伯甚至成立了僕人領導中心來推廣這樣的理念。
在聖經裡面我們也看到僕人領導的想法，最佳的典範就是耶穌基督。耶穌說告訴他的門徒說：「因為人子來，並不是要受人的服事，乃是要服事人，並且要捨命作多人的贖價。」他也說：「在你們中間，誰願為首，就必作眾人的僕人。」(馬可福音10章44節)
這當中只有一個問題：「我知道神要我當僕人，但是我不想要。」我的肉體想要人看到我在服務別人的時候，心裡想著或說出：「我的老天啊！他真是個屬神的人啊！」不幸的是，真正的僕人不會有人注意到他，他常常是被忽略的。一個真正的僕人，只希望服務別人，讓他的主人高升，並不會想到自己或是希望自己被認同或被讚賞。只有當過僕人的人才知道要怎麼做一個僕人。
關於僕人領導，我對作家亨利․布拉卡比(Henry T. Blackaby) (註1)，印象很深。他說得比我更好，以下是摘錄：
「是誰為大？是坐席的呢？是服事人的呢？不是坐席的大嗎？然而，我在你們中間如同服事人的。」(路加福音22章27節)
“在神的國度裡，衡量的方法和世界是不一樣的。我們的社會崇拜有錢的、有能力的、漂亮的以及運動員，甚至是那些用不道德方法致富的人。這個世界宣稱他們服務人群是很辛苦的。但是，神的國度完全捨棄衡量自尊的方法，把最高的榮耀給那些服事人的人，給那些無私服務、不抱怨以及尋求認同的人。
當耶穌和他的門徒進到馬可樓上，那些門徒在找一個重要的位置坐下。耶穌卻在找人服事。當他們彆扭地坐著等著被服事，耶穌拿了一條毛巾和水盆洗他們的腳。身為基督徒，我們喜歡稱自己為僕人，但是我們很少因為當僕人就滿意了。我們被這個世界影響了，用這個世界的標準去衡量一個人的重要性。但是當我們看到耶穌的榜樣，我們看到一個尊貴的人去服侍別人，而不是被別人服侍。
這個世界是用有多少人服侍你，來判斷你的重要性，神卻是看你服事的人有多少。如果你的心遠離了神，請你求耶穌教你無私，也給你勇氣去追隨祂所立下的榜樣。”
誰是你領導的人？或是你能影響到的人和同工？你們要如何展現真實的領袖能力－僕人領導，去服侍人，表現出他們是很重要的，把他們的需要擺在第一位，甚至是在你自己的需要之前。
註1:Henry T. Blackaby是Blackaby Ministries International的創始人和一位有影響力的福音派牧師。[1]他最暢銷的名為” 體驗上帝“，他撰寫了許多其他書籍和文章。布萊克比一生的工作對美國和加拿大許多福音派教徒的宗教生活產生了重大影響。他的書已被翻譯成40多種語言，並影響到全球。(資料來源，英文版維基百科)
Ken Korkow住在美國的內布拉斯加州歐馬哈市，是當地CBMC的會長。這篇文章經授權，節錄自他的所寫的「生命傳真」專欄。
反省與問題討論
當你聽到僕人領導這個名詞的時候，心裡想到甚麼呢？ 你看過有人行出僕人領導嗎？如果有，是誰呢？他們是如何用服侍去領導別人的呢？ 要當僕人領袖的困難在哪裡？作者觀察到被當僕人看待時，會有甚麼「危險」？有甚麼問題呢？ 如果你想要成為一個僕人領袖，或是更好的人，你覺得需要甚麼條件呢？你願不願意用服侍別人來領導他們呢？解釋你的答案。
備註：如果你手上有聖經，想要閱讀更多關於和這個主題相關的經文請參考：
馬太福音 8章20節
8:20耶穌說：「狐狸有洞，天空的飛鳥有窩，人子卻沒有枕頭的地方。」
馬太福音 20章20-28節
20:20那時，西庇太兒子的母親同她兩個兒子上前來拜耶穌，求他一件事。
20:21 耶穌說：「你要甚麼呢？」她說：「願你叫我這兩個兒子在你國裏，一個坐在你右邊，一個坐在你左邊。」
20:22 耶穌回答說：「你們不知道所求的是甚麼；我將要喝的杯，你們能喝嗎？」他們說：「我們能。」
20:23 耶穌說：「我所喝的杯，你們必要喝；只是坐在我的左右，不是我可以賜的，乃是我父為誰預備的，就賜給誰。」
20:24 那十個門徒聽見，就惱怒他們弟兄二人。
20:25 耶穌叫了他們來，說：「你們知道外邦人有君王為主治理他們，有大臣操權管束他們。
20:26 只是在你們中間，不可這樣；你們中間誰願為大，就必作你們的用人；
20:27 誰願為首，就必作你們的僕人。
20:28 正如人子來，不是要受人的服事，乃是要服事人，並且要捨命，作多人的贖價。」
路加福音22章27節
22:27是誰為大？是坐席的呢？是服事人的呢？不是坐席的大嗎？然而，我在你們中間如同服事人的。
哥林多後書8章9節
8:9 你們知道我們主耶穌基督的恩典：他本來富足，卻為你們成了貧窮，叫你們因他的貧窮，可以成為富足。
腓力比書 2章3-4、7節
2:3 凡事不可結黨，不可貪圖虛浮的榮耀；只要存心謙卑，各人看別人比自己強。
2:4 各人不要單顧自己的事，也要顧別人的事。
2:7 反倒虛己，取了奴僕的形像，成為人的樣式；
CHOOSING TO SERVE RATHER THAN TO BE SERVED
By Ken Korkow
Years ago, the term “servant leadership” moved into prominence in business and professional circles. For some it seemed a contradiction in terms, what grammarians call an “oxymoron.” Leaders are the ones who are supposed to be served, right? However, writers like Robert K. Greenleaf and others pressed the point that the best leaders achieve the most by serving those they lead. He even started the Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership to advance that philosophy.
Servant leadership is a concept we encounter in the Bible as well, modeled best by Jesus Christ. Addressing His followers, Jesus stated, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). He preceded that by saying, “whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all” (Mark 10:44).
There is just one problem with that: I know God wants me to be a servant – but I don't like being treated like one. The “flesh side” of me wants people to see my acts of service and think or say, "My, oh my, isn't Ken such a wonderful man of God." Unfortunately, a true servant is not noticed; often he or she is even ignored. A true servant only desires to serve and see the master exalted, without thinking about self, recognition or receiving credit. You will know what it is like to be a servant – when you are treated like one.
Pondering this, I was impressed by what author Henry Blackaby wrote about it. He says it much better than I could, so here is the excerpt:
"For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves" (Luke 22:27).
“The measure of greatness in the kingdom of God differs vastly from that of the world. Our society idolizes the rich, the powerful, the beautiful, and the athletic. We even make celebrities out of those who brazenly flaunt their immorality. The world claims it is demeaning to serve others. However, God's kingdom completely rejects the world's measure for esteem, giving the greatest honor to the one who serves most. The person who serves selflessly, lovingly, without complaint, and without seeking recognition is highly regarded in the kingdom of God.
When Jesus and His disciples entered the upper room, the disciples looked for a prominent place to sit; Jesus looked for a place to serve. As they awkwardly waited to be served, Jesus took a towel and basin and washed their feet (John 13:1-15). We Christians like to refer to ourselves as servants, but we are seldom content to be treated as servants! We are tempted to adopt the world's evaluation of importance. But when we look to Jesus as our model, we see that it takes a far more noble character to serve than to be served.
The world will estimate your importance by the number of people serving you. God is more concerned with the number of people you are serving. If you struggle to be a servant, your heart may have shifted away from the heart of God. Ask Jesus to teach you selflessness and to give you the strength to follow His example. Watch for Jesus' invitation to join Him in serving others. It will come.”
Who are the people you lead? Or people in your sphere of influence, even coworkers? How might you exhibit true leadership – servant leadership – by serving them, demonstrating how important they are and putting them and their needs first, even ahead of your own?
Ken Korkow lives in Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.A., where he serves as an area director for CBMC. This is adapted from his “Fax of Life” column. Used with permission.
Reflection/Discussion Questions
What comes to your mind when you hear the term, “servant leadership”? Have you ever seen someone demonstrate what it means to be a servant leader? If so, who was that person, and what did it look like for them to lead by serving others? One difficulty with striving to be a servant leader, Mr. Korkow observes, is the “danger” of actually being treated like a servant? Why would that be problematic? If you were to resolve to become a servant leader – or a better one – what do you think that would require? Would you be willing to do whatever is necessary to effectively lead others by serving them? Explain your answer.
NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more about this subject, consider the following passages: Matthew 8:20, 20:20-28; Luke 22:27; 2 Corinthians 8:9; Philippians 2:3-4,7
