LEADING BY SERVING
And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave.
Elizabeth Elliot told of a relative who was the dean of a Christian college. One night some boys in a dorm smeared the walls with shaving cream, peanut butter, and jelly. When the dean heard about it, he wondered what action to take. He could force the young men to clean it up or he could order the janitor to do it. Instead, he started to clean up the mess himself. Soon doors began to open, and before long the guilty ones were helping him wash the walls. Because he took the role of a servant, he taught the boys a valuable lesson. Sometimes I get the feeling that we are experiencing a leadership crisis among Christians. Although plenty of people are eager to assume the top position, far few are willing to accept the biblical pattern of authority. They ignore the basic teaching of passages like Matthew 20. The pattern established by Christ for leadership in the church can be summed up in one word: servanthood. Jesus Himself exemplified this when He washed the disciples’ feet as "an example" (John 13:2-16).
Whenever we are in the position of leadership, we should examine our attitude toward service in light of Matthew 20 and John 13. Perhaps we need more practice in the principle of leading by serving.
If great and small work side by side when it comes time to lend a hand, if all will turn their backs on pride. Christ’s servant-heart they’ll understand.
LEAD PRAYERS ARE ALWAYS IMPROVING THEIR SERVE.