1 Peter 5 - Lance Armstrong
1 Peter 5 - Lance Armstrong
Leadership. A word that seems to have a lot of definitions, and brings a lot of different thoughts to our minds. Last night I finished watching an ESPN special on Lance Armstrong. Most will know the name, and most will have a bit of context of his story. Lance, without a doubt, has to be one of the most gifted leaders and talented athletes the world has ever seen. The problem however is, much of his life and career was built on a lie and deception around the use of performance-enhancing drugs, and Lance leveraged his dominance in the sport to dominate his teammates, the sport itself and we saw it all come crashing down as his seven Tour de France victories were stripped from him.
Lance’s story and life looks a lot like many leaders we see in the world today...as Robin and I watched the ESPN series we talked about some current world leaders Lance reminded us of. But what jumps out to me, we use this word leader and leadership when we see people like Lance or other impressive people, and it does not line up with what the Bible talks about and describes as great leadership. I watched the series, saw all that Lance was able to accomplish, what he was able to create with the Livestrong Foundation, how he completely changed an industry a sport, but all of this was done and accomplished with such a great wake of destruction. It is without argument that Lance changed and saved a lot of lives as a cancer survivor, and his creation of Livestrong. But at the same time, we see the lives that Lance destroyed and wrecked to fulfill his desires and selfish ambition.
So I am sitting here just processing the word leadership, and wrestling with the reality of how the world views it’s leaders. If I am candid with you, I watch Lance, see all that he accomplished and all that he did, and part of me says, I get it. As horrific as I know that makes me look, and I have to say that I am not proud of that thought, I can understand as a highly competitive man that is very driven and very ambitious I can see how that story plays out. My guess is Lance is an Enneagram 8, like me. I can place myself in his story, and if I remove my Christ-centered life and remove some of the guardrails that I have set up in life, I can say without a doubt I could, and more than likely would be able to follow the path he chose. Now, I do not have anywhere close to the talent he was blessed with...I am not saying that. But I am saying I can see the unfettered destruction collision course my life could take without the rudder that Jesus has brought to me.
This extended opening and rambling of thought takes me to 1 Peter 5. I believe that the core of this chapter addresses everything that I am feeling, processing, and wrestling with around worldly vs. Godly leadership. Peter addresses this to the exiled Elders of the churches, to the leaders of the Ministries in the Roman provinces.
“Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.” - 1 Peter 5:2-3 NIV
We can breeze right by the word shepherd, but if we do, that would be an injustice to this text and the deeper meaning behind what Peter is sharing with us. Let’s take a step back and see what Jesus poured into Simon Peter's life.
“When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.” - John 21:15-17 NIV
I really liked what I read in a commentary about this:
Shepherd the flock of God: protecting, guiding, nurturing, and caring for the sheep. The most important “tool” to shepherd the flock of God is a heart like the heart of Jesus, one that is willing to give one’s life for the sheep, and who genuinely cares about and is interested in them (John 10:11-14).
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—” - John 10:11-14 NIV
I can not help but take a moment and reflect on Lance Armstrong, and what we can look at and glorify in worldly leadership. Nothing in Lance’s life looked like being a good shepherd. I see aspects in worldly leadership that takes the opposite approach, the approach of taking care of one’s self and putting one’s self above those around himself. A shepherd is all about service and laying down his life for others.
“In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” - 1 Peter 5:5 NIV
Peter again hammers on submission. He hits this earlier in the letter to the saints to submit to the government, wives, and husbands, slaves and masters, and now young to old... a submission is an act of honor! Godly leaders honor those around them, building them up and humbling themselves before those they lead.
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” - 1 Peter 5:6-7 NIV
This submission connects us back to the authority that we sit under, and that is under God. Leaders, we must walk humbly, humbly live our lives and recognize that this posture is what God uses to lift us in due time.
Humble isn’t weak, and we have to recognize that. Caring, loving, and protecting is not insignificant, and we need to change our mindset if we struggle with seeing the shepherd as weak. There is noble valor that I see with the role of a shepherd, and it looks very different than Lance Armstrong. I do not want to judge or be judgmental towards Lance, that is not my heart, more the purpose of these thoughts. I recognize that we all fall short of the glory of God, and I recognize deep inside of me there is still many areas of pride and selfish ambition I need to purify, and see God’s correction in. I am far from perfect.
Leadership, I believe we have all been called into leadership and to occupy the God-given space we have been blessed with fully. We must bring this servant leadership, and shepherd like leadership into our lives. We must see the difference in the glorified worldly direction that leads to domination, destruction, and hurts the lives of others and, ultimately, the heart of God. Let’s allow this closing prayer and message of encouragement to take us into the day.
“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power forever and ever. Amen.” - 1 Peter 5:10-11 NIV
Lord God, may we honor you with our leadership today.