Memorise: If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also
ought to wash one another’s feet. John 13:14
One great
difference between servant leaders and self-serving leaders is that servant
leaders always look at leadership as an act of service, while self-serving
leaders view leadership as a high status and spend most of their time trying to
protect their status. Servant leaders would embrace and welcome feedback,
viewing it as a source of useful information on how they can provide better
service, but self-serving leaders usually respond negatively, taking a harmless
feedback as a sign of rejection. In Matthew 20:26b-28 Jesus said;
“Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and
whoever wants to be first must be your slave just as the Son of Man did not
come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
Servant leadership
is service to others. It is not about lobbying for a position, nor politicking
for power. Instead, it is looking for the opportunity to serve. This is not
attractive to the insecure soul in need of abundant attention. Servant leaders
avoid the limelight and serve in ways that often go unnoticed. The little
things are what make a servant leader. It may be taking out the trash at home
or making the coffee at work.
No task is
too menial for the servant leader; there is something bigger than behaviour which
distinguishes a servant leader. It is an attitude which wants to make others
succeed. He knows that if those around him are successful, then there is a good
chance that he too will experience success. He is wise to want what’s best for
others.
Jesus
served for the glory of God. His ultimate service was laying down His life in
love. In Matthew 10:39, our Lord Jesus who is an example of a perfect leader
says;
“He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for
my sake shall find it.”
Any leader
that is preoccupied with personal interests, protection of status, and
preservation of positions, may not be a good ambassador of Christ. Another
thing that helps you to identify a serving leader is integrity. They are usually
men and women of integrity. Proverbs 11:3 says the integrity of the righteous
provides him with direction. Being someone who wants to please God, there are
certain things he cannot do. Anything God will not be pleased with is a no-go
area for him. Being a man of integrity, he states the exact time of his arrival
in the office. In fact, everyone will strive to arrive before him knowing that
he cannot alter his arrival time. He cannot also compromise the truth. He will
not buy something for =N=100 and say he bought it for =N=500. He keeps his
promises. His word is his bond. His relationship with the opposite sex is
clean. He cannot take what does not belong to him. He has clean hands and a
pure heart. Are you a man or woman of integrity?
Prayer Point: Father, please make me a servant leader, ever focused on
your relationship principles in Jesus’ name.
Bible in one year: 1st Chronicles 4:24-6:81, Proverbs
26:15-28
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