Leading by Serving: Spiritual Leaders are Humble Servants
Jesus was unlike any leader that ever lived. He was the highest living Authority, and yet the lowliest loving Servant. Although He had all the power to create the heavens and the earth, He humbly came down on a rescue mission to serve His creation and to lay down His life for undeserving sinners (Mark 10:45).
He was not concerned about status or recognition, nor did He seek the approval or applause of men. He humbled Himself and “made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant and coming in the likeness of men” (Phil. 2:6-7). He went from village to village, looking for the weary and lost among the crowds, declaring He came “to seek and save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). For Jesus, leadership involves being a servant of all and having a humble shepherd’s heart that is moved with a deep compassion toward the lost, weary, or misguided.
The prophet Isaiah saw Christ’s sacrificial way of service before His incarnation when he said:
“Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles. He will not cry out, nor raise His voice, Nor cause His voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench; He will bring forth justice for truth. He will not fail nor be discouraged, Till He has established justice in the earth; And the coastlands shall wait for His law.” – Isaiah 42:1-4
THE CHRIST MODEL OF SERVANT LEADERSHIP:
Be SUBMITTED: “My Servant, whom I uphold”
Be CALLED: “My Elect One, in whom My soul delights”
Be EMPOWERED: “I will put My Spirit on Him”
Be GENTLE: “He will not cry out…nor cause His voice to be heard”
Be COMPASSIONATE: “A bruised reed He will not break”
Be JUST: “He will bring forth justice for truth”
Be BELIEVING: “He will not fail nor be discouraged”
Be PERSEVERING: “Till He has established justice in the earth.”
Jesus loved His disciples “to the end," and on the night before He laid down His life for them, He girded Himself with a towel and washed their feet. Imagine that! The Creator of the entire universe humbly washing the feet of sinful, created human beings who often argued among themselves over who would be the greatest. When He was done, He said, “I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done for you” (John 13). The more we learn the ways of our Master, the more we will see the needs of others and lovingly serve them as well. We will realize that church leaders or gifted individuals do not exist so that we can showcase our gifts, but rather we exist to equip the members of church to use their gifts and to do the work of the ministry (Eph. 4:11-12).
The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.
– 1 Peter 5:1-4
Thus, this model of servant leadership serves as our biblical pattern for lifelong ministry.
Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for
“God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” – 1 Peter 5:5
