PUT DOWN THE TITLE

Jesus does not reject greatness—He redefines it.

Can God trust me with Influence?

Mark 10:42–45 NLT

“Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Supporting Scriptures: Luke 22:24–27; Philippians 2:3–5; John 13:12–17

WHAT DID JESUS MEAN?

Mark 10 begins this leadership lesson with an uncomfortable moment. James and John ask Jesus for prestigious positions beside Him in glory. When the other disciples hear about it, they become angry—not necessarily because they had conquered ambition themselves, but because James and John had asked first.

Jesus uses the conflict to expose two competing definitions of leadership.

The surrounding Gentile world understood authority through domination. Jesus says their rulers “lord it over” people. The Greek verb katakyrieuō communicates exercising mastery or dominion over another.

Then Jesus draws a line between the culture of the world and the culture of His Kingdom:

“But among you it will be different.”

Jesus does not say leadership is wrong.

He says our leadership must look different.

The Greek word translated “servant” is diakonos—one who ministers to or serves another. Jesus takes their ambition for greatness and redirects it toward responsibility.

And then Jesus makes Himself the model:

“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve…”

The One possessing the greatest title accepted the posture of a servant.

We live in a culture obsessed with titles.

CEO.

Pastor.

Bishop.

Manager.

Founder.

Influencer.

Supervisor.

President.

Director.

And titles aren't inherently wrong.

The danger begins when the title becomes more important than the assignment.

Sometimes we want the microphone before we're willing to move the chairs.

We want influence without inconvenience.

Authority without accountability.

Recognition without responsibility.

Platform without sacrifice.

We want people to know what we are before we've demonstrated who we've become.

Jesus confronts that mentality.

The Kingdom question isn't:

“How many people recognize your position?”

It is:

“What happens to people because God gave you influence?”

That's leadership at church.

That's leadership at work.

That's leadership in business.

That's leadership in your family.

That's leadership at school.

And sometimes that's leadership when nobody has given you a title at all.

You don't need a title to encourage somebody.

You don't need a position to protect somebody.

You don't need a platform to pray for somebody.

You don't need a microphone to speak life.

You don't need recognition to serve.

Before asking God for more influence, examine what you're doing with the influence you already have.

Who becomes stronger because you're around?

Who receives encouragement from you?

Whose burden becomes lighter?

Who sees Jesus more clearly?

And here's where conviction gets personal:

If the title disappeared tomorrow, would I still serve?

If nobody thanked me...

If nobody announced my name...

If nobody posted what I did...

If nobody knew I was responsible...

Would obedience still be enough?

Because there is a difference between serving Jesus and performing Christianity.

Maybe Monday's repentance isn't about some dramatic public sin.

Maybe it's simply:

“Jesus, somewhere along the way, I started needing people to notice me.”

Put that down.

You don't have to make yourself smaller.

You don't have to deny your gifts.

You don't have to pretend God hasn't given you influence.

Just put the title back underneath the authority of Jesus.

Because before God expands our influence, He cares about what our influence is doing to people.

If the title disappears and the service stops, maybe I wasn't serving—I was performing.

Father, thank You for every gift, opportunity, responsibility, and measure of influence You have placed in my hands.

Forgive me for the places where recognition became more important than obedience, where position became more important than people, or where I wanted the benefits of leadership without accepting its responsibility.

Give me the heart of Jesus.

Teach me to see people, carry burdens, encourage others, and serve without requiring applause.

Don't merely increase my influence—increase my character enough to carry it.

Make me trustworthy with what You have already given me.

And when greater opportunities come, don't let the title make me forget the towel.

In Jesus' name, Amen.

LoveUmorethanUknow, Stephan