Servanthood Vs. Leadership

Many pastors, church leaders, and church members lust to be leaders. They attend leadership conferences, read leadership books, and spout leadership quotes and phrases.

But if the truth be told, there are very few authentic leaders out there who are worthy to be followed.

There are a lot of pretenders, but very few contenders.

The problem is that many people who want to be leaders have the wrong motives. Many of them are on a power kick, a desire to be the king of the hill and nothing more. This is not God-honoring, and God knows the true desires of anyone who seeks to be a leader.

If one truly desires to be an effective, God-honoring, and God-glorifying leader, then the formula is clearly stated in the Bible.

In order to be an effective leader, one must learn to be an effective servant.

Just like Jesus.

In Matthew 20:25-28 (NKJV), Jesus was speaking to His disciples about ambition, authority, and leadership. Jesus said to His disciples, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave - 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."

Jesus practiced such service in John 13 when He washed His disciples' feet. Footwashing in that culture was the job for the lowliest servant in a household. Yet Jesus did it. He showed His leadership through such lowly service. In John 13:14-15 (NKJV), Jesus told His disciples, "If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you."

In Luke 14:11 (NKJV), when speaking about worldly ambition and honor, Jesus said, "For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

Do you truly want to be a God-honoring, God-glorifying leader?

Then lead like Jesus, in humble service to others.