After they arrived at Capernaum and settled in a house, Jesus asked his disciples, “What were you discussing out on the road?” But they didn’t answer, because they had been arguing about which of them was the greatest.

Mark 9:33-34

Dear God, there’s a part of me that has a hard time understanding this conversation between the disciples, but then again I kind of get it because this kind of thing came up with my coworkers recently. Jesus had to deal with it like a manager. It was basically the same kind of personnel issue that I had.

I would imagine this was a difficult group to manage. You had very different personalities. They ranged from Peter (probably ADD at some level) to Judas (a malcontent). You had the more thoughtful ones who might not as readily jump into action like John.

My biggest struggle as a leader is dealing with personnel issues. I like this example here of getting everyone to sit down together, challenge the with what is seemingly a rhetorical question and then giving them a truth that breaks the paradigm of their argument—greatest works against you.

Father, help me to be a better leader of people. Help me to find the balance of leading and serving. Help me to decrease while you increase. Help me to bring you glory in everything I do.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen