Jesus – The Perfect Example of Servant Leadership
Mark 10:45 (NIV)
“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.” – Mark 10:45 (NIV)
Beloved, as we examine the whole question of humility and serving others, we must understand that any such discussion is meaningless without reference to our Lord Jesus Christ, Who is the epitome of the subject matter.
It should be noted that humility and serving others are ingrained in the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ – the Saviour King Who demonstrated His loving kindness for all mankind by the humane way in which He treated all and sundry. Elect of God, humility and serving others are major characteristics and functions of a servant leader.
In the Holy Bible, Jesus explained to His followers that their practice of leadership was to be distinctly different than the self-seeking, self-serving, and domineering style of leadership that is found in the world: “Whoever would be first among you must be the servant of all,” He said, (Mark 10:42-44; Matthew 20: 25-28).
It is a foregone conclusion that the Lord Jesus Christ is the ultimate example of servant leadership, and His life and teachings show us how important it is to lead with a servant’s heart. As Christians (from the pulpit to the pew), we are mandated to follow Jesus’ example and become servant leaders in our sphere of influence.
Research emanating from https://mailchimp.com revealed that “…traditional leadership styles often prioritise the leader’s authority and control, servant leadership shifts the focus to the needs and development of the team members.” Thus, it is because of Jesus’ servant leadership style that He was able to mentor His disciples in such a manner that their ministry has impacted millions of people worldwide.
Beloved, if we are to live the life of being a servant leader, we must understand that servant leadership is a concrete expression of a daily commitment to live out the Word of God and the will of God and thereby advance the Kingdom of God. As servant leaders, let us use the time that He allotted to us for His glory, not our own.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, we pray in the name of Jesus that humility and yeoman service to humanity be the hallmark of our Christianity. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
Read: Ezekiel 34:2; John 13:14-15
Bible Reading Guide: Psalm 85:1-7; Romans 2:1-16; Jonah 1; Jonah 2; Jonah 3; Jonah 4
