Servant leadership

In my Bible reading this morning (Exodus 23-24; Matthew 20), I saw what may be the most important leadership principle presented in Scripture. It seems that virtually every other leadership principle stems from this one truth: a leader is a servant.

Servant leadership does not come natural, does it? As we look at people in leadership in our culture, we are led to believe that positions of leadership are intended to satisfy our longings for power, prestige, possessions and much more. The leader climbs to the top of the corporate ladder for his or her own self-centered purposes.

We see this desire in two of Jesus’ disciples as they got their mom to ask Jesus for a favor:
Matthew 20:20-21 (New Living Translation)
“Then the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus with her sons. She knelt respectfully to ask a favor. 
‘What is your request?’ he asked. 
She replied, ‘In your Kingdom, please let my two sons sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left.’”

We understand their desire for that place of honor, don’t we? We long to feel that our life matters. We long to feel that we are respected by others. And we suspect that if we can get into a place of influence, that longing will be satisfied.

Yet, Jesus responded by essentially saying that leadership is not intended to meet that need within us. That need for significance must be met in relationship with Jesus. Leadership isn’t about us. It’s about those we lead. That is why the Jesus-follower in a position of leadership must be a servant. 

Matthew 20:25-28 (New Living Translation)
“But 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. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. 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.”

While positions of leadership can certainly be a source of satisfaction for the leader, it’s not about us! It’s about those we lead. We lead for their benefit. We lead with the desire to make them better for having followed us.

If those in positions of authority are to become more like Jesus, then we have to be what He was - servant-leaders.