Forgiveness is probably, for me, the toughest of Christ’s requirements for His followers. But coming in at a very close second is servant leadership. I don’t like the idea of being “last”. I want to be the best. I want people to love me and praise me. I want “followers” and “likes” and “thumbs up.”
But Jesus, by word and example, reveals a model that is totally opposed to what I want. Paul reminds us, in Philippians 2, that Jesus was GOD and chose to humble Himself to an excruciating and undeserved death because of His great love for us.
Meanwhile, I don’t even like when people go before me at a four way stop.
I want this type of leadership from others, though. I am really great at pointing out those folks who claim to follow Christ but mistreat others, who bully and manipulate and lie to get what they want, who treat others like the dirt on their shoes, all in the “name of Jesus.” I think they’re awful, and I want nothing to do with them.
But…when it’s me, do I get just as angry? Am I as appalled at my own sin as much as I am at others’? Do I expect the same level of servant leadership from myself as I do from others? Or do I excuse my own sinful behavior, because it’s “not as bad” as the sins I see in other people?
What God is trying to teach me is that, because he requires servant leadership from His followers, disobedience is sin. Choosing to put my own interests above others is sinful. Living in a constant “me first” mindset is living outside of God’s will. And I know that there is far more freedom and joy living inside God’s will than out.
(Please know, this doesn’t mean it’s all right to permit abuse. That isn’t what I’m saying or what the Bible teaches. If you are in any type of abusive situation, walk away. Get help. We let bullies win when we give them the power to abuse others without consequence. Sometimes the kindest thing you can do for someone is to establish boundaries so they know their behavior is unacceptable.)
So what does servant leadership look like? Hopefully, you have some examples around you. I’m blessed to have many servant leaders around me. These are the folks who stop what they’re doing to help you, who really listen when you talk, who quietly look for ways to assist those around them. Servant leaders aren’t flashy, they don’t brag about what they’ve done or complain about what they need to do. They just serve, with joy and humility, in whatever way they can.
I have a LONG way to go in this area. But I’ll start small – looking for ways, today, to serve someone, to do something no one will even notice. Maybe something as simple as returning a grocery cart to the store or picking up trash from the ground. Servant leadership doesn’t have to be grand. It’s a mindset, looking for ways to bless others, help them, encourage them, to love others and place their interests above our own.
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” Phil. 2:3-4
