SERVANT LEADERSHIP.

There used to be a lot of talk about that a few years ago. Books were written about it. Speakers used it as a topic for their speeches. Corporations encouraged their CEOs and others to practice it. 

What is it? I’m going to “dumb it down” quite a bit by defining it as “the willingness to lift someone up and at the same time take a back seat.” Not lessen one’s responsibilities. Not pawn off tasks one dislikes. It is the willingness to encourage, to promote, to lift someone up. True leadership never looks out for #1. True leadership, good leadership, spot-on leadership seek the betterment of an individual or group above themselves. As a pastor, my #1 responsibility is not promote myself. #1 is to honor and glorify the Father. My #2 is to always ask what is best for this church. There is way too much, and there are way too many pastors who are promoting themselves and their agenda, their “likes,” and they are leaving behind God’s best. Pastors are often so focused, they can’t even hear what God is saying. 

Jesus had something to say about this. In Mt. 20 He was asked by the mother of James and John to give them places of honor in His kingdom. He gave His answer but the others got wind of the request and complained. Jesus’ words are pointed: “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.” (Verses 26-28 NLT) 

I believe Ronald Reagan is credited with saying,

There is no telling how far an organization can go or what it can do if no one cares who gets the credit.

I believe Jesus would agree. Promote someone else today. Encourage them.