2016年2月5日
僕人式領袖
A Serving Leader
读经: 列王紀上12章1-15節
Reading: 1 Kings 12:1-15
你們中間誰願為大，就必作你們的用人。-馬太福音20章26節
Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant. Matthew 20:26
全年读经: 出埃及記36-38章;馬太福音23章1-22節
Bible in a Year: Exodus 36–38; Matthew 23: 1-22
在傳統的非洲社會，決定王位的繼承人是很重要的。國王過世後，選擇繼承人的過程相當嚴謹。除了要有皇室血統，繼承人還必須堅強、無畏、明智。他們將會服務人民或是採取高壓統治也會一併納入考量。畢竟，國王的繼承人不但要能領導，也要為民服務。
雖然所羅門王本身就曾做過許多錯誤的選擇，他也擔心他的繼承者將會重蹈覆轍，因此，他說：「那人是智慧是愚昧，誰能知道？他竟要管理我勞碌所得的，就是我在日光之下用智慧所得的」（傳道書2章19節） 。他的兒子羅波安繼承了他的王位。所羅門王最擔心的事終究還是發生了：羅波安在位時，經常缺乏正確的判斷。
當以色列人要求更合理的工作環境，正是讓羅波安學習僕人式領袖的機會。當時年長的謀士對他說：「現在王若服事這民如僕人，用好話回答他們，他們就永遠作王的僕人」 （列王紀上12章7節） 。但羅波安卻拒絕了他們的諫言。他非但沒有尋求上帝，反而以更嚴厲的方式對待人民，致使王國分裂，加速上帝百姓靈性的敗壞 （12章14-19節） 。
無論是在家庭、職場、教會，或是社區，我們都需要上帝的智慧以謙卑地服事人，而不是受人的服事。
親愛的主，請賜給我僕人般的謙卑心懷。
幫助我以謙卑與憐憫的態度去領導及順服他人。
好的領導者亦是好的僕人。
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In traditional African societies, leadership succession is a serious decision. After a king's demise, great care is taken selecting the next ruler. Besides being from a royal family, the successor must be strong, fearless, and sensible. Candidates are questioned to determine if they will serve the people or rule with a heavy hand. The king's successor needs to be someone who leads but also serves.
Even though Solomon made his own bad choices, he worried over his successor. "Who knows whether that person will be wise or foolish? Yet they will have control over all the fruit of my toil into which I have poured my effort and skill" (Eccl. 2:19). His son Rehoboam was that successor. He demonstrated a lack of sound judgment and ended up fulfilling his father's worst fear.
We need God's wisdom for the humility to serve rather than be served.
When the people requested more humane working conditions, it was an opportunity for Rehoboam to show servant leadership. "If today you will be a servant to these people and serve them . . . ," the elders advised, "they will always be your servants" (1 Kings 12:7). But he rejected their counsel. Rehoboam failed to seek God. His harsh response to the people divided the kingdom and accelerated the spiritual decline of God's people (12:14-19).
In the family, the workplace, at church, or in our neighborhood—we need His wisdom for the humility to serve rather than be served.
Dear Lord, please give me a humble servant's heart. Help me to lead and follow with humility and compassion.
A good leader is a good servant.