In July of 1976, 103 Israelis were held hostage at the airport in Entebbe, Uganda. In a stunning demonstration of courage, Israeli commandos made a daring raid to free their fellow citizens. In less than fifteen minutes the soldiers killed all seven of the kidnappers and set one hundred captives free.
As successful as the rescue was, however, three of the hostages were killed during the raid. As the commandos entered the terminal they shouted in Hebrew, “Get down! Crawl!” The Jewish hostages understood and quickly lay on the floor while the terrorists, who did not speak Hebrew, remained standing. Instantly the rescuers shot the upright kidnappers. But two of the hostages hesitated, perhaps trying to see what was happening, and they also were gunned down.
One young man who had been lying down before the raid stood up when the commandos burst into the airport barking their orders. He too was shot with the bullets meant for the enemy. Most experts agree that had those three followed the directions, they would not have been killed. In that moment, their survival depended on whether they were willing to follow instructions.
Successful endeavors require both capable leaders and cooperative followers. There are plenty of books and seminars on leadership, but far fewer that teach people how to be a good follower.
Most people will have moments in life when they are the leader. Yet almost every day we find ourselves in situations where we must follow. You might be a group leader at church, but a gopher at work. You might be the quarterback of the team but just another student in the classroom. You might be the leader of a huge corporation, but when you get home at the end of the day, you may find it wise to follow your wife’s directions!
One test of character is whether you can lead well in one situation while also being a good follower in another.
The Bible instructs Christ-followers:
“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. Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time” (1 Peter 5:5-7).
A good follower has a healthy respect for authority and a genuine spirit of humility.
Children often get into trouble early because their carnal nature rebels against authority. Howard Hendricks once told that when he was a little boy his mother insisted he perform an unpleasant chore. When she left the room he mumbled, “You’re a big dummy!” He didn’t know his dad had just come into the room behind him.
His father picked Howard up by the shirt collar, stared him in the eye and asked, “Who’s a big dummy?”
He blurted out, “I’m a big dummy! I’m a big dummy!”
Hendricks later said that his quick retreat into self-incrimination added enough humor to the moment that he escaped a spanking. But he never forgot the lesson of that encounter—behind his mother stood the authority of his father. When he disrespected his mother, he would ultimately face the wrath of his father.
Scripture encourages us to submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Jesus Christ has all authority in heaven and on earth, and He has delegated authority to parents, government officials, and church leaders. Those authority figures are to be respected and their instructions followed unless their directives contradict God’s commands.
As I attempted to lead a church staff, I witnessed department heads who were very good at leading their teams but who chafed under any accountability above them. They struggled—not because they weren’t good leaders—but because they weren’t humble enough to follow when called upon to do so. Their pride kept them on the edge of rebellion and prevented them from being total team players.
As a pastor I sometimes saw wives dig in their heels against the instruction in Ephesians 5:22 that wives are to submit to their husbands as to the Lord. The very idea that any man would have any degree of authority in the home seemed outrageous to them. It often seemed to me that those marriages carried an undercurrent of tension.
Most of us have seen video clips of suspects resisting police officers during what began as a routine traffic stop. Instead of simply complying with a request to provide a driver’s license and proof of insurance, they refuse to follow the instructions and argue with the officer, quickly escalating the situation into a dangerous confrontation.
Of course, it’s always easier to follow a good leader. You can follow well when you are led well. While there are many excellent leaders, there are also people in positions of authority who misuse that authority to manipulate or intimidate those under them. In situations like that, it can be very difficult to remain a cooperative follower.
Consider the humble spirit of Jesus. Even though He had all authority in heaven and earth, He was a good follower. When confronted about paying taxes, He made provision to comply. When the high priest commanded Him to answer under oath whether He was the Messiah, He responded truthfully. When He wrapped Himself in human flesh, “He humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross.”
Far from being degrading, Jesus’ humble spirit of submission resulted in His exaltation. God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow—in heaven and on earth and under the earth—and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
The apostle Paul insisted that our attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus. Jesus is the world’s consummate leader. But when called upon to do so, He was also a model follower. He left us an example that we should follow in His steps.
Being a humble follower could make the difference between life and death.
