Sowing and Reaping: The Song of a Servant Leader

Cultural Compass
Nov 5
6 min read

Contributor: Wyatt Thompson

“I am an instrument of exaltation / And I was born to lift Your Name above all names. / You hear the melody of all creation / But there’s a song of praise that only I can bring.” – Gateway Worship, “Who Else”

At first glance, it might appear that these lyrics refer to the literal act of singing to give praises to God. However, He is pleased in other ways besides when we sing praises and worship songs to Him. He is not like the pagan gods who were believed to bend to the wills of the people in exchange for lip service.

Worshiping God is really about honoring Him with the gifts, talents, and time that He gave to us. He has a specific purpose for each of us, which some might describe as our story or testimony. So, metaphorically speaking, each Christian has their own unique song.

For my final project in SEU’s Missional Life class, I discussed the many facets of living a missional life. One of these is the biblical idea of sowing and reaping. In the context of family, church, and the workplace, this concept is foundational for living like Jesus through our words and actions.

Joseph’s Faithfulness

In Genesis, we read that Joseph had a dysfunctional family. His father showed him favoritism, and his jealous brothers sold him to slave traders. Through this, God brought Joseph to Egypt where he experienced many challenges and inconveniences. Eventually, he worked under Potifar and was given authority over everything in his house.

“So it was, from the time that he had made him overseer of his house and all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the LORD was on all that he had in the house and in the field.” – Genesis 39:5 (NKJV)

While we do not know the extent of what Joseph did to receive the favor and blessing from God, it could only have been from trusting, humbling, and submitting to Him and His ways. This enabled him to run from Potifar’s wife when she unclothed and enticed him.

In the story of Joseph, we learn that he reaped favor because he sowed obedience. He could have chosen to complain and live miserably because he was treated unjustly. However, he chose to follow and serve God because he trusted and loved Him. When he was in the role of a servant and when he was in a position of authority, he sang the song of a servant leader.

Esther and Mordecai’s Integrity & Hamon’s Deceit

The book of Esther is probably not one that we associate with sowing and reaping. However, we find that the choices and consequences of Esther and Mordecai reveal a much different work ethic than that of Hamon.

Although some scholars believe that she was unethical in how she attained the throne, she chose to honor God and her people with the authority she had been given. In Esther, we see a woman whose devotion to God and loyalty to her people outweighed her privileges as the queen. In turn, God extended her favor when she entered the throne room without permission and thwarted Haman’s plan for executing Mordecai and her people.

“So it was, when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, that she found favor in his sight, and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. Then Esther went near and touched the top of the scepter.” – Esther 5:2 (NKJV)

Conversely, Haman attempted to use his privileges to bolster his pride. After Mordecai refused to kneel before him, Haman acted on his pride to satisfy his ego. As a result of reaping sin, God rewarded him with the execution he arranged for Mordecai.

The way that God administered justice speaks to the integrity of Esther and Mordecai and lack of it in Haman. He did not administer it immediately, but after they sang the song of a servant leader and proved themselves faithful to the responsibilities God gave them in their current season.

A Healed Man’s Faith

In Mark 5, Jesus performed three miracles, one of which was casting out a legion of demons from a possessed man. After Jesus cast the demons into a herd of swine, the healed man requested to physically follow Him.

“However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, ‘Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how he has had compassion on you.’” – Mark 5:19 (NKJV)

It might seem strange that the God of the universe would tell a man to go home immediately after healing him. However, upon closer examination, we find out that Jesus was instructing him in how to live out his new faith. The season to which He called this man was not one of following Him literally, but following Him spiritually among his community.

By returning to his community and singing the song of a servant leader, he could plant seeds in others and reap what Christ planted in him. In turn, he would reap a spiritual harvest that likely would not have been achieved by following Jesus as the disciples did.

Seeking the Welfare of Others

Joseph was taken to Egypt against his will, yet he chose to follow God faithfully and honor those in authority. Esther and Mordecai lived in exile, yet they chose to bow to the King of the universe before the king of Persia. The demon-possessed man obeyed Jesus by going into his community to spread the Gospel.

From these passages, we can learn that God wants us to sow integrity regardless of where He has placed us.

“And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the LORD for it; for in its peace you will have peace.” – Jeremiah 29:7 (NKJV)

Although we are likely not physically exiled like the Israelites to whom Jeremiah spoke, God is intentional about where He places His people so He can use them to contribute to the growth of His Kingdom. In turn, when we sing the songs that God specifically wrote for us, we sow the Fruit of the Spirit and reap it exponentially.

For many years, Pastor Robert Aguayo lived in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and worked as the Academic Dean of Calvary Christian Academy. Since 2006, he has served as a missionary in Mexico building Christian schools. From this experience, he learned that people will be more inclined to hear the Gospel after their physical needs are met. Helping others with their physical welfare opens the door to helping their spiritual welfare.

“When you not only bring the Word, but also bring help and education and medical help, they’re very much more open to listen and to do something… with the message.” – Pastor Robert Aguayo

Aguayo sings the song of a servant leader in the educational field. Through providing quality education, he sows his unique giftings into hundreds of children, and reaps a harvest of students who not only perform well academically, but also seek Christ in their personal lives.

Final Thoughts

Today, God has planted us in a specific community for a specific purpose. The community may be a combination of family, church, and workplace. Some people, like the demon-possessed man and Pastor Aguayo, will be called to build relationships with others. Others, such as Joseph, Esther, and Mordecai, will be placed in difficult situations in order to test their faith.

Whether in the Old Testament, New Testament, or modern day, God has placed everyone in a specific environment for His plan and purpose. As Christians, we must be faithful to the responsibilities He has given us in our current seasons. If we want to reap the Fruit of the Spirit and impact others with our words and actions, then we must sow the attributes of God in all that we say and do.