Topic: The Servant Leader [Thursday 19, May 2016]
Memorise: If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. – John 13:14Read: John 13:13-17 (KJV)
13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.
15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.
Bible in One Year: 1 Chronicles 4:24-6:81, Proverbs 26:15-28
MESSAGE:
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 Mathew 20:26b-28 Jesus said;
"whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many."
Servant leadership is a 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 Mathew 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 or 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 N100 and say he bought it for N500. 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 leadership principles in Jesus' name.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries.
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