Servant Leadership
I heard a podcast where the speaker asked if there was any other kind of leadership. He was implying that servant leadership is leadership. I’ve seen leaders abuse their power and their authority over others. I’ve seen leaders that were too good to clean up a mess that someone else made. I’ve seen leaders that were willing to do any job even if it was well below their “pay grade” or their area of responsibility.
Jesus was asked by James & John to give them places of honor when He entered His kingdom. He responded to them that those places were not “His to give” – only God would do that. Jesus uses this moment to teach them about leadership. Check this out…
41 When the ten other disciples heard what James and John had asked, they were indignant. 42 So Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. 43 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. 45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:41-45 NLT)
I think that Jesus’ point about servant leadership applies everywhere in the workplace today. It doesn’t mean that the leader a doormat to the people He leads. It does mean that the leader treats everyone with respect and honor because they’re human. The leader takes the high road when it would be easy to jump in the fray. The leader sets the tone for the organization he/she leads.
Leaders think ahead.
Leaders show respect to others.
Leaders have vision.
Leaders have habits.
Leaders have goals.
Leaders are readers.
Leaders are planners.
Leaders are kind.
Leaders are wise.
Leaders love well.
Leaders love deeply.
One of the things that troubles me about the political environment in our country, is that our elected officials seem to check many of these outstanding leadership qualities at the door of their elected office. What would it look like if instead of acting like adolescents, they practiced servant leadership? I’m not necessarily asking them to change their belief system, but I am asking for respect, honor, and civility in their disagreement. I think Christ followers should be an example of respect and honor to our leaders. I don’t know many of them personally, so I will respect and honor the position they hold. I want to follow Jesus’ definition of servant leadership to those I have the responsibility of leading.
Pressing On!
Dwayne