The Hired Man

Matthew 23:11 says, “But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.”

My grandma told me a joke when I was a little boy. A pig farmer had a hired man. One of the sows had given birth to a litter of piglets. “Go see how many piglets were born,” said the farmer. There were eleven. The hired man had learned to count on his fingers and could only count to ten. He came back and answered the farmer; “I counted ten. But there was one running around so fast I couldn’t count him.”

There have been many jokes about hired men. They are often looked down on. Jesus said the greatest among you shall be your hired man. He went on to say, “And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted” (Luke 14:11).

There is nothing worse than a leader who exalts himself, and considers himself greater than those he leads (I suppose there are worse things. I can’t think of them right now.) Saul was a king of large stature, standing head and shoulders above the rest of the people. He started out humble until he began to exalt himself. He was pretty big stuff until Goliath came along. David served under him a long time and always honored him.

When it was David’s turn to reign he had a humble spirit. David grew great because the Lord was with him (I Sam. 5:10). He understood something about leadership that only great leaders understand. “And David perceived that the Lord had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel’s sake.” God didn’t exalt David, but his kingdom. He didn’t do it for David, but for Israel.

Jesus also said, “Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets” (Luke 6:26). A true leader is not always popular or rich. Our forefathers that established our great nation gave their lives and belongings in service. They were not looking to climb the ladder of success and sit in high places. They weren’t out to see who could get the most money.

I am reminded of a good friend of mine in high school. Burt was not a great student, but he had a great heart. He spent his life working as a janitor. He was fired just before retirement (a dirty trick). He went on to work at a pizza place. He showed his true colors when I was away at college. My mother was alone, living out in the country. Burt would ride his bicycle out to check on her, to see if she was ok, to help in any way he could.

I love the hymn, “Little is Much When God Is in It” by Kittie L. Suffield. It talks about the harvest field. It is not talking about the boss, but the laborer —perhaps a young person driving truck for the first time. It could be talking about an old person driving truck for the last time. It can seem like a small, unimportant job. The chorus to the hymn says, “Little is much when God is in it! Labor not for wealth or fame. There’s a crown and you can win it, if you go in Jesus’ name.”

David learned a lesson as a hired man over a few sheep; it was the Lord who delivered him out of the paw of the lion and the bear. David went on to be Israel’s hired man!