Leading or following, faithfulness is the key
Last week, we started our contemplation of what it means to follow and follow well. We realized that Jesus upends our expectations of leading and following. We touched on how being rooted in God’s love makes it easier to accept faithfulness as the standard of success. And we looked the examples of some of the saints for a model of faithfulness.
Now, let’s turn to Scripture to see what God’s word says for us.
Faithfulness is a requirement whether we lead or follow. In Luke 16:10 Jesus says, “The person who is trustworthy in very small matters is also trustworthy in great ones; and the person who is dishonest in very small matters is also dishonest in great ones.” We can read “faithful” for “trustworthy” here.
In other words, whoever is faithful in small matters will be faithful in large ones. We can see the “insignificance” of following as a training ground for us to learn how to be faithful so that one day—if Jesus calls us—we can carry the mantle of leadership on strong shoulders formed by years of practicing faithfulness.
This concept applies to everyone, not just businesspeople or high achievers. Being a good follower, faithful, and loyal are scriptural concepts that we can use today, no matter what our roles are in life.
Ruth’s followership
One of my favorite scriptural examples is Ruth. Ruth is unique and known for many things. I have often heard her story connected with chastity talks and waiting faithfully for a spouse. That is a beautiful sentiment, but we can glean a wealth of wisdom from Ruth, whether we are single or married.
One of the best lines from Ruth says, “Wherever you go I will go, wherever you lodge I will lodge / Your people will be my people and your God, my God / Where you die I will die, and there be buried” (Ruth 1:16-17).
Ruth’s loyalty to her mother-in-law Naomi is inspiring. She is loyal to Naomi even when Naomi gives her permission to return to her own family and people. Some might read Ruth’s story and the quick way Scripture presents it and see only a blindly loyal follower, one who doesn’t think for herself.
Please understand me—I am not asking you to follow someone blindly and never question their requests.
We can see the “insignificance” of following as a training ground for us to learn how to be faithful so that one day we can carry the mantle of leadership on strong shoulders formed by years of practicing faithfulness.
Ruth’s loyalty is inspiring, not because she seems to trust and listen to everything Naomi, and later Boaz, says immediately. Her loyalty inspires me because she chooses to give everything she has to the person and God she chooses to follow. Once Ruth decides to follow Naomi, she does everything Naomi asks to the best of her ability. She does nothing halfway.
I don’t know about you, but many times when I am the follower, I do a lot of things halfway. How would things improve if I gave everything I could to those endeavors?
David’s followership
Another great scriptural example of followership is David. Before he became king, his predecessor, King Saul, began to feel jealous of David and threatened by him. Some commentators blame Saul’s jealousy on his vanity—how much stock he placed in what other people thought of him. Whatever caused Saul’s jealousy, the outcome was undeniably dangerous for David. Saul threatened to kill David over and over again. (Read more about Saul and David in 1 Samuel.)
What is so inspiring about David’s example is that David never harmed a hair on Saul’s head. He had many chances to kill Saul and end the threat to his own life. He was convicted that God had placed Saul in leadership over Israel. No matter how bad things got for David, he knew that it was not his place to retaliate against God’s chosen leader.
In time, Saul eventually died, and David was able to ascend to the throne. His reign was not without its errors, but David was always a “man after God’s own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14).
How often do fickle and petty people lead us at work or in ministry? When I find myself in a situation where a leader is threatened by me or jealous of me, I do not respond as David did. Those situations rob me of my peace and I seethe with anger and, in a small way, want revenge. I want someone, anyone!, to put them in their place and tell them to grow up. Which, by the way, is never me because I have never been that aggressive! Someone else needs to do it.
David teaches me the importance of not seeking revenge or self-protection, even when I might be justified in pursuing it. David constantly prays and asks the Lord what he should do. Every time, God tells David to be patient and wait.
How would my experience of unjust leaders, and my experience as a follower in these situations, change—if only I would ask God what to do and receive the peace he wants to give me?
Peter’s followership
St. Peter is one of my favorite people in the New Testament because he is the quintessential overzealous follower. He tries too hard, reacts too eagerly, and still gets it wrong. But he keeps trying. Even when he denies Jesus three times during the Lord’s Passion, he is willing to try again when Christ gives him another chance after the Resurrection.
Yes, St. Peter gets it wrong so very often.
But don’t we do the same?
Just like St. Peter, I hope we can acknowledge our failures and shortcomings. I hope we can take a pause if we need to, and then get back up and keep on trying, even when it feels like all we hear as followers is corrections and orders that are contrary to what we would have chosen.
Even when Jesus literally calls St. Peter “Satan”—remember the “Get behind me, Satan” (Matthew 16:23) moment?—St. Peter does not get offended or refuse to work under these conditions. He listens to Jesus and sticks around. He commits himself to learning what Jesus expects of him, and he tries to do better.
This example of sticking with it, giving his best effort, and coming back to ask questions is where we, in our role as followers, can find pure gold. When our leaders are trying to teach us something, instead of digging in our heels, let’s follow St. Peter’s example.
This week
To take Scripture into your everyday, real life, choose one of the examples here (or one of your own) and try to emulate Ruth, David, or Peter in your follower roles.
Comment below and tell me who your biblical role model is this week!
