Shakespeare penned the phrase, “Beware of the Ides of March” in his play, “Julius Caesar.” 

A soothsayer warned Caesar of impending danger on that day.  He apparently ignored the warning.  Some say a friend convinced him that it was nothing more than superstitious foolishness.  Others say he may have mixed up the date.  The middle of each of the twelve ancient Roman months was called the ides.  In March, May, July, and October it fell on the 15th but on all the other months it fell on the 13th.  Perhaps Caesar mistakenly hid himself at home on the 13th and so when the 15th came, his guard was down.  Whatever the reason, Julius Caesar went to Pompey’s theater on March 15 of 44 B.C. to attend a senate meeting and was stabbed to death.

The lesson for us comes not only in his disregard of the warning but in why the warning was necessary. 

Julius Caesar was a dictator whose exercise of power and control was met with great resentment and criticism by his enemies.  The conspiracy to kill him, however, involved his “friends.”

Christian leaders and teachers are exhorted by Jesus to be servants, not dictators, “just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”  See Matthew 20:25-28.

“Beware of the Ides of March” if you are using your position in the church as a means of controlling others and the agenda.  Danger could lie ahead.  You might think people are on your side, but the day could come when even your “friends” rise up against you.

“Beware of the Ides of March” if someone else in your church is allowed to engage in power plays.  Your church could be in for some trouble. 

Help yourself, and others, instead to . . .

Maintain integrity.  Be real.  Who you are at home and who you are in the pulpit, classroom, or boardroom should be authentic.

Minimize obstacles.  What is keeping you from being who you ought to be?  What is keeping you from being a true servant?

Maximize your knowledge.  Learn from others.  Don’t let yourself believe that you have arrived.  You do not know everything.  The input of others is valuable. 

Model after God.  Following after His character and ways will prevent you from the abuses and misuses of leadership.

“Beware of the Ides of March” by learning the lesson from Caesar’s life.  Even more importantly, listen to Jesus’ words in Luke 22:25-26,

“The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors.  But you are not to be like that.  Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves.” 

to stand before the people in such a way as to attend to the direction of the body with such care and diligence so as to motivate others to get involved in the accomplishment of these goals

Servant #1:  He was a pastor on the cutting edge.  He consistently wanted to try new ways of accomplishing ministry.  He knew the church could go so much further in making an impact in the world and their community and he wanted to take them there.  He was also a great motivator and builder of potential leaders.  Members of the congregation struggled with the little time he invested into pastoral care such as visitation and counseling.

Servant #2:  He was a a church planter.  He consistently wanted to see new churches developed.  Not long after a church got off the ground, he would find himself feeling hemmed in.  Members of the congregation struggled with his desire to move on and begin a new church.  They wanted him to stay even though he became increasingly frustrated.

Servant #3:  She regularly found herself in leadership positions throughout her years of ministry.  She enjoyed doing administrative work but became most impassioned when working on new ideas.  She enjoyed people but felt most fulfilled when she could work on goals to provide people with a path to becoming better equipped and more Christ-like.  Sometimes she served with ministry leaders who didn’t care if the ministry got beyond status quo and therefore they didn’t always understand some of the stands she would take on issues.

All of these servants had a God-given drive to take the church to new heights.  And, all of these servants were at times misunderstood or stifled in their pursuits by the expectations of others.

Lesson to be learned:

Let’s make sure we understand the difference between the gifts and not box people in to our ideas of what someone in a ministry position should look like.   If we want certain characteristics, let’s make sure we recruit the right person with the spiritual gift(s) most suitable for our priorities.  For example: 

Unless accompanied by other gifts or a certain personality, don’t expect someone with the gift of leadership to delve into the details of administrating his/her ideas or to focus in on the on-going needs of people.  Likewise, unless accompanied by other gifts or a certain personality type, don’t expect someone with the gift of administration to have the enterprising qualities of someone with the gift of leadership. 

Unless accompanied by other gifts or a certain personality, don’t expect someone with the gift of leadership to get involved in the nitty-gritties of people’s lives.  Likewise, unless accompanied by other gifts or a certain personality type, don’t expect someone with the gift of pastor to take a more global approach to ministry.

Leaders develop ideas.  Administrators develop strategies to accomplish ideas.  Pastors develop people to benefit from the ideas and strategies.

to be sensitive toward those who are suffering, whether physically, mentally, or emotionally, so as to feel genuine sympathy with their misery, speaking words of compassion but more caring for them with deeds of love to help alleviate their distress

Servant #1:  He was a teenager, one with ADHD.  He would often find himself in trouble at school and at church.  He could be self-absorbed, self-gratifying, and lacking in self-control.  Yet, when he saw someone in need, his heart went out to them and he wanted to do something to help.

Servant #2: In her eighties, she would visit people in nursing homes.  “Those poor old souls,” you could hear her say, as she pondered the conditions some of them were experiencing.  Her heart ached over their loneliness and losses and she wanted to be there to comfort them and let them know that someone cared.

Both of these servants were in a stage of life that presented their own needs, yet when they saw others in need were able to step outside of themselves with the compassion of Christ.  These individuals were years apart, yet both served the Lord.  Gifts are not age specific.  Nor are they held back from those with special needs or disabilities.  When it comes to having or using spiritual gifts, the issue is if you know the Lord.

Lesson to be learned: 

Let’s provide opportunity for all to serve.  Children and teens who know the Lord have much to offer right now.  They are members of the church of today, not merely the church of tomorrow.  We should come alongside of them, mentoring and discipling them to use their gifts.  Our senior citizens should not be shelved simply because they are old.  They have much to offer.  The psalmist wrote “Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come” (Ps. 71:18).  Proverbs 16:31 adds, “Gray hair is a crown of splendor.”

In my personal time with the Lord I was reading through the Gospel of Matthew and came to the Garden of Gethsemane scene in Matthew 26:36-56.  As I was studying the passage, I began to ask myself, “What if?”  What if these events hadn’t happened?

• What if Jesus had taken this a bit more casually?
• What if Jesus had not followed the Father’s will?
• What if the disciples had reacted differently?
• What if Judas had changed his mind at the last minute?
• What if Jesus had let the disciples fight with swords?

How different things would be if it hadn’t happened the way Scripture records it.  As I thought through the implications of these “What If” questions, I became more energized and appreciative of all Jesus went through for me.  I enjoyed this study so much, I had to pass it on to others and so you will now find the “What Ifs” from the Garden of Gethsemane Discussion Guides in the MinTools.com store.

As I continued on through Matthew, I kept asking the questions.  Here are some more “what ifs”:

• What if they had arrested Jesus publicly?
• What if Peter had not denied Jesus?
• What if Jesus had a fair trial?
• What if Pilate had released Jesus instead of Barabbas?
• What if Jesus had come down from the cross?
• What if no phenomenon had occurred when Jesus breathed His last?
• What if the women hadn’t watched Jesus’ death and burial?
• What if Jesus hadn’t stayed in the grave for three days?
• What if Jesus hadn’t risen at all?
• What if Jesus hadn’t appeared to anyone after His resurrection, or perhaps to just the inner core of disciples?

Lord willing, perhaps these “what ifs” will be turned into future discussion guides.  For now, I hope you take some time to think through these questions.  Perhaps it will help encourage you to see that Easter had to happen the way Scripture tells the story or things would be quite different for you and I today.

to steer the body toward the accomplishment of God-given goals and directives by planning, organizing, and supervising others

Servant #1:  This person came alongside of his pastor who was not administratively inclined in a way that made the pastor look more efficient.  He coordinated tasks behind-the-scenes, reminding the pastor of the various details that needed attention.  He was not on staff, nor had any kind of title for what he did.

Servant #2:  This person took on a volunteer position as the Director of VBS in her church.  She planned, recruited, and coordinated all the various facets of Vacation Bible School.  During VBS you wouldn’t have even known she was at the helm as she continued to work behind-the-scenes making sure everything went smoothly … and it did.

Servant #3:  This person, me, worked full-time in a church as a Director of Christian Education. Prior to working for the church I revamped their children’s ministry, investing many hours into planning strategies to implement a more discipleship-oriented ministry.  I was not their Children’s Director, simply someone who volunteered time to get it off the ground and delegated responsibilities to others.  Now, as Director of Ministry Tools Resource Center, I continue to find myself planning, organizing, and coordinating efforts to efficiently use the resources and means God has given the ministry to help equip others.

All of these servants have the spiritual gift of administration but they are not all in leadership “positions” or roles.  They would not all be labeled as administrators but nonetheless do administrative work.

Lesson to be learned:

Let’s be careful we do not pigeon-hole the use of spiritual gifts into positions.  A spiritual gift can be used in a paid or volunteer position, full or part-time.  A spiritual gift can be used by someone with or without a title, in a recognized ministry position or not.

to share what material resources you have with liberality and cheerfulness without thought of return

Servant #1:  This person held a high paying, executive job in a major corporation.  When I first began Ministry Tools Resource Center, stepping out in faith with little financial resources, I received several very large gifts from this person at critical junctions.  He tried to give anonymously but I did find out who it was and was able to thank him.  What a blessing!

Servant #2:  This person was retired and on a limited income.  Regardless, she repeatedly purchased extra food at the grocery store and gave me her surplus knowing that I too was on a limited income because of being in ministry.  Consequently, money that would have been spent on groceries could go toward other bills.  What a blessing!

Both of these servants had the spiritual gift of giving.  One was able to give big and the other in less substantial ways.  The end result, however, was the same with both.  I was blessed!  I experienced God’s faithfulness to me through both of these servants, confirming His direction in my life to do this ministry.

Lesson to be learned:

Let’s not look at what we have, or don’t have, and say God can’t use us.  The amount is not the issue but rather being used by God to bring about eternal good.  Sometimes He will use the means of those who are rich and sometimes He will use the means of those who are poor.  If He is the one using what is in our hands, it is significant.

to come along side of someone with words of encouragement, comfort, consolation, and counsel to help them be all God wants them to be

Servant #1:  This person enjoys counseling others to reach their potential in Christ, to make decisions that line up with His Word, and to trust Him with their past, present, and future.  This servant of God prays with people as they seek to process life in healthier ways.

Servant #2:  This person loves to teach children and has done so for many years.  She was quite surprised, though, to recently find out she did not have the gift of teaching but rather the spiritual gift of exhortation.  After explaining the difference between teaching and exhortation and how teaching can be a platform for using the gift of exhortation, she could see that indeed this was her gifting.

Servant #3:  This person makes up a bag of encouraging Bible verses for people going on short term mission trips to take with them and read one each day.  People return commenting how the verses were just what they needed for each day.

All of these servants have the spiritual gift of exhortation but use it in different ways. 

Lesson to be learned:

Let’s be careful we do not limit how God might want to use us by too narrowly defining how a spiritual gift can be exercised.