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When we asked Christian leaders the top leadership skill they’d like to personally develop over the next 12 months, No. 3 on the list was servant leadership. The idea of servant leadership has become so well-known that non-Christian leaders have adopted a definition that essentially removes Jesus, focusing on humility as a desirable trait in and of itself.
But Jesus defined servant leadership in this way: “For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves” (Luke 22:27). He came as a king, but his life turned the hierarchy of royalty upside down.
Here are four insights to help you practice servant leadership.
Servant leadership is more than just humbly giving people what they want. It is a willingness to sacrifice personal comforts and desires in the pursuit of what’s best for the people under your care.
The leaders in our survey admitted they want to develop this aspect of their leadership over the next year. What about you? Start with these two concepts, knowing we have more details in the full eBook called The Top Five Challenges Christian Leaders Face.
Concept #1:Servant leadership begins in the heart of the servant, not in processes or tools. The prophet Malachi delivered strong words on behalf of the Lord when the Israelites offered second-rate, defective animals for temple sacrifices. In their hearts, the people looked out for themselves, keeping the best of their flocks and herds for personal use.
“‘When you bring injured, lame or diseased animals and offer them as sacrifices, should I accept them from your hands?’ says the Lord.” —Malachi 1:13b
The people thought God wanted the animals’ blood, but instead, he wanted the people’s hearts. He desired their devotion. Are you devoted to your people? Do you give them your heart, or do you only give them time and attention after you’ve satisfied your wants and needs?
Concept #2: Remember the Golden Rule for leadership: If you want people to care about their job and the organization, demonstrate that you care about them as people.
“‘Therefore, whatever you want others to do for you, do also the same for them — this is the Law and the Prophets.’” —Matthew 7:12
When it comes to this challenge. It’s vital to understand you are not alone. Take comfort in the words of some of the Christian leaders who follow us. They remarked about the Bible and its role in their leadership here:
“God’s Word has impacted my leadership because it gives me a firm, unwavering foundation from which to lead. I believe very strongly in servant leadership. My job is to encourage and strengthen others to excel.” —Duff
“Scripture has taught me that to be a leader, I have to be a servant first. To be a leader, I need to work on my character rather than appearance or doing.” —Thomson
We dive into several tips for leaders in the full eBook. Here are just a few to get you started:
I found this article on BiblicalLeadership.com called 7 characteristics of a lazy person by Bob Russell to be most helpful. It speaks to what servant leadership is not. Do the opposite of these things, and odds are you’ll be a servant leader.
You can’t get started in the morning. “Laziness brings on deep sleep...” (Prov. 19:15). The sluggard loves the snooze button on the alarm. He just can’t drag himself out of bed in the morning. In college, he often missed the first-hour class. On the job, he’s always late for appointments.
You seldom finish anything.“The lazy man does not roast his game, but the diligent man prizes his possessions” (Prov. 12:27). The lazy man likes to hunt; that’s the fun part. But cleaning his game, building a fire, and roasting the meat is tedious. He starts a lot of worthy projects, but seldom finishes them.
You’re full of excuses. “The sluggard says, ‘There is a lion outside! I’ll be killed on the public square!’” (Proverbs 22:13). The lazy person will say, “It’s a jungle out there!” “I had to quit; my nerves were shot.” “It’s Friday; no one works on Friday afternoon.”
You seem to get a lot of bad breaks.“The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway” (Proverbs 15:19). The lazy man has a victim’s mentality. Nothing seems to go right. “Wouldn’t you know it, the morning of the interview my car wouldn’t start, and I was late for the appointment.” “I got caught drinking just one beer on break. Everyone does it. I just got caught.”
Everyone experiences a few bad breaks in life, but the lazy person seems to bring it on himself. And he never makes the connection between behavior and consequences.
If you struggle with laziness, heed the admonition of Proverbs 6:6-8: “Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander or overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.”
Lastly, I’d regret it if I didn’t provide you with more resources on this challenge—especially since we have so many leaders who have addressed this challenge specifically. To name a few:
Characteristics of a good shepherd
8 qualities of shepherd leaders
6 leadership mistakes most pastors make
Book review: The 4 Dimensions of Extraordinary Leadership
Remember, from all of the Christian leaders we surveyed, from leaders at churches, to organizations and various businesses, one of the top challenges was practicing servant leadership. Once you know what Scripture has to say, you understand that you are not alone, you have tips to combat the challenge and you have additional resources to help when you need them. You, too, can overcome this challenge such that others would call you a servant leader.
If you want to dig deeper on this and the other top challenges, download the full (and free) eBook >The Top Five Challenges Christian Leaders Face.
Photo source: istock
Have you ever felt the pull to full-time ministry work as a missionary or pastor? If not, you can still make a Kingdom impact without quitting your current job. In this eBook, you will learn the four essentials that can change your perspective of work, your workplace, and most importantly, your heart.
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