A Great Woman is a Serving Woman 

In verses 20–24, the mother of James and John asked Jesus if her sons could sit by him in the kingdom of Heaven. She was asking for her sons to have a position of authority as Jesus’s right and left hands. Jesus said, You have no idea what you are asking or what is about to happen. And it’s not my place to grant such authority. 

Then in verse 24 it says, “And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers.” They were angry that James and John could even ask such a question. Then we pick it up in verses 25–27: “But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. ²⁶ It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, ²⁷ and whoever would be first among you must be your slave,” Matthew 20:24–27

Yesterday, we talked about what it means to live under authority—God’s authority first and foremost, and the authority of man. Jesus, being the perfect example, humbled himself by becoming fully man in submission to His heavenly Father. Although Jesus was fully God, He stepped off of His throne to come to earth as a man and serve us. And in verses 25–27, Jesus tells the disciples, Hey guys, you’re not going to be like all the other rulers out there lording it over everyone. You will lead by serving others, and you will go last.

The story of Lydia in Acts 16 shows us what it looks like to be a servant, even in a position of authority. 

Acts 16:13–15

¹³ And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. ¹⁴ One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. ¹⁵ And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us. Lydia shows us five servant leader attributes.

First, Lydia was a boss lady—a dealer of purple cloth. She owned her own company that sold purple silks, linens and other fabrics. The color purple stood for royalty and high status. Not just anyone was buying from her. It was most likely the most expensive cloth on the market. And the most important people were her clients. And in all her boss lady busyness, she made time to hear Paul’s message. She wasn’t too good for it, she wasn’t too busy for it, she embraced it. 

Second, Lydia had influence. When the Lord opened her heart to Paul’s teachings, she converted and was baptized. It says her household was also baptized. Lydia was in a position of authority over her family, and her influence was great. They trusted her and trusted in her decision to follow Christ, and they also came to Christ because of it. 

Third, Lydia was a woman who feared God. She was a “worshiper of God,” meaning she already had a relationship and respect for God and the laws of God. Because of her closeness to Him, her heart was ready to receive Paul’s message without question but with humility and reverence. 

Fourth, Lydia listened. “The Lord opened her heart to pay attention.” She wasn’t too important to listen to Paul. She wasn’t too busy to stop what she was doing and pay attention. She listened to Paul, but more importantly, she listened to the nudge of the Holy Spirit.

Fifth, Lydia asked to serve. She could have easily gone back to work and all of the busyness and forgotten about Paul and his teachings. Instead, she asked them—or the text says she prevailed over them or persuaded them—to come home and stay with her and her family, so she could serve them. Lydia believed, and then she served. 

If you are in authority like Lydia, how do you lead? Do you serve others? Do you lead with humility? Do you listen? Do you fear the Lord? Or do you lead like a bull in a china shop, unwilling to listen, honoring only to yourself and your own plans? Holding a position of authority doesn’t exempt from submitting to it. A great leader knows how to lead with humility and grace. A great leader knows how to take off the leadership hat and serve.

If you cannot show the same humility and grace that Jesus demonstrated to you, ask yourself, Am I truly submitted to the authority of Jesus Christ? Or do I seek my own power and authority over God’s authority in my life?

Sometimes we must get dirty for the sake of the gospel. It requires getting off our high horses and stepping into the mud alongside our brothers and sisters—our employees, our children. 

A serving woman asks to serve. Don’t wait you’re “less busy”—that time will never come. And don’t wait for someone to ask you. If the nudge is there, that’s the Holy Spirit. Don’t ignore Him.

A serving woman listens. What is God asking you to do? What are your next steps? Spend time in prayer and really ask, “God, what’s next for me?”

A serving woman fears the Lord. Proverbs 31:30 says, “A woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.”  And Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” A woman who fears the Lord is fully submitted to Christ’s lordship. She is obedient to whatever God commands of her, and she turns away from evil. 

If you are not serving in the church or community, it’s time to start. Serving others above yourself is an act of willful submission to your Lord and Savior. Just as Jesus submitted to His Father and lowered Himself to become a man in this sinful world, we too must die to ourselves and submit to our Father by serving Him and His glory.

God, I pray that every woman following Your will takes time to stop, listen and obey. I pray for wisdom and clarity as we continue this journey of service to You and to others. We want to be your servants. Heavenly Father, help us to listen to what You have next for us. Amen