Devotional: Remembering Charlie and Dan Luke 22:24-30

“‘But it is not this way with you, but the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant” (Lk 22:26, NASB).

As I am reading this passage, Luke 22:24-30, I am reminded of Charlie and Dan. Charlie and Dan are horses that my dad owns when I am growing up. I have known a lot of horses, and I have ridden many horses in my lifetime. I have never known horses like Charlie and Dan. Charlie and Dan are work horses believed to be Belgian horses. They are strong. They are gentle. They obey the commands of my dad and my older brothers. At the same time they are calm and gentle. Anyone that can keep their balance and knows how to ride a horse is safe on the backs of Charlie and Dan. So, why do these horses remind me of this scripture passage?

As I have already stated Charlie and Dan are work horses. This is their primary function and my daddy buys them for this purpose. Charlie and Dan are a team. Now, if you see them working as a team you may not know that Charlie is the leader. The two work together. Dad gives to them commands, sometimes individually and sometimes as a team. Dad knows when to coax them. Dad knows when one is not pulling his weight, and dad knows how to get them working together again. The two know how to get into sync with each other. Working together they are stronger.

Both Charlie and Dan have good leadership qualities. There are some tasks that one is better than the other. Charlie, the lead horse is able to work with Bell, Mr. Newt’s horse, allowing Bell to be the lead horse. Dan is able to be the lead horse working with Mr. Mitchell’s mule. Dan is too feisty to do slow tedious work, but he is ready to take the lead when the task calls for speed. Well, I could go on and on about Charlie and Dan, but I hope that you have enough information about them to understand what Jesus is saying to His disciples about leadership.

The disciples are arguing about who is the greatest. The issue before them is about Jesus going before the Sanhedrin Council. He will be falsely accused and crucified on a cross. Again, who is the greatest is not the most important issue at this time. However, since they raise the issue, Jesus takes time to explain leadership to them.

Leadership is not about the greatest. It is about accomplishing the mission. There will be times when the gift of one of them is needed more than the gifts of the others. They are to follow the instructions of the Holy Spirit just as Charlie and Dan obey the commands of my dad. Each one of them is to be ready to adjust their rolls so that the work can be done. They are not to create a hierarchy because this will mean that the person best suited for the job may not be allowed to use their gifts.

So as children of God working in His kingdom, we ought to learn from Charlie and Dan. Hear the voice of the Lord and obey the voice of the Holy Spirit. The work is more important than the position that one holds. Be flexible always ready to make needed adjustments in your assignment. Instead of trying to be the greatest individual, do your best to make the team the best that it can be. Remember Charlie and Dan.

Prayer: Lord, teach us to use the gifts that You give to us to accomplish the mission that You set before us. Amen.