Servant Leadership: Pull Your Own Weight

“That’s not my job.”

It would be nice if the Bible was crystal clear on everything and if there was no controversial subject. In some areas, the Bible is perfectly clear – Jesus Christ, Son of God, only way to heaven. (John 14:6) Pretty simple. Love God and love your neighbor. (Matt 22:37-39) Racism, in fact any type of superiority complex, is wrong. (Rom 12:3 & 15:7)

But God also expects us to use the brain he gave us – at least sometimes. The Bible never comes out and says “don’t watch porn.” But God’s word does prohibit sexual sin (1 Cor 6:18), advises specifically against lusting after a woman (Matt 5:27-28) which also applies to a man, and coveting anything that isn’t yours: anyone who isn’t your husband/wife (Exodus 20:17), more money (1 Tim 6:10-12), really anything that belongs to someone else (James 4:2-4). So, while pornography isn’t explicitly forbidden in the Bible, it’s safe to say God frowns upon it.

But what does the Bible say about doing a good job, even when it means doing someone else’s job?

That, servant leaders, can be a bit tricky. Let’s break it down into two parts: Do a good job, and do someone else’s job.

Do a good job. It sounds simple enough. Servant leaders don’t strive to perfection because we like our boss, nor do we do so because it might lead to higher pay, a better assignment, or a promotion. No, we strive for perfection because God is worthy of our best work.

“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men” (Col 3:23, NKJV)

I like the New King James Version’s translation of that particular scripture. Do good translates in this case to “heartily,” which, in the original Greek, is the word ek psyches, or “from the soul.” (bibleref.com) That has a deep resonance, doesn’t it? Do a good job. Work from your soul. The soul is deep, at our core. It’s not superficial, scratching the surface as if to check a box or just get the job done and move on. Working “from the soul” requires thought, sweat, going above and beyond what anyone expects. The rest of the verse is pretty simple to understand as well: Work for God, not for rewards from men. So, when we put it together, we are instructed to work from our soul because God is our boss. Pretty simple. Do a good job.

But what are servant leaders expected to do when doing a good job means doing someone else’s job? It’s just a little bit tricky, because God doesn’t expect you to be a doormat. God draws a clear line between someone not “able” to do their job or someone who is “unwilling” to do their job. God’s word is pretty clear about the latter.

“The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.” (2 Thes 3:10, NIV)

That’s pretty clear. If you know they aren’t doing their job by choice, then you have a responsibility not to do it for them. But what about when, say, a lazy worker or manipulative supervisor pawns his work off on you, not as a building block in your career but because he doesn’t actually do anything that requires sweat equity? Frankly, that’s when God expects us to use our brains. If they trick you into doing their job, that’s one thing. Learn from it and be vigilant. But if you have counseled him to do his own work, whether he is above you or not, and he still insists on skating by, consider Jesus’ words in Matthew.

“And when you go into a household, greet it. If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet.” (Matt 10:12-14, NKJV)

In Jesus’ day, the dust of non-Jewish territory was considered unclean. Like certain meats, Jews were to rid themselves of heathen dust when they left a non-Jewish place. This became a symbol – shaking the dust from one’s clothes – that you were done with that place and their fate was in their own hands. Much like washing your hands of an issue, shaking the dust was meant to convey your displeasure with their actions or choices and your refusal to be a part of it.

So, how do we handle a co-worker or boss who pawns his work off on us because he’s lazy or incapable, and not because he’s trying to learn?

Well, servant leaders, the desire of your soul is probably not to do their job and your own, so take a page from Taylor Swift and “shake it off.” (What, you didn’t know Taylor borrowed that from Matthew?)

(Painting: Hear The Boat Sing, courtesy of wordhistories.net)