Leaders must be servants

 Leadership is a much sought-after quality in life.

Many companies and the military branches look for this quality as they are recruiting. In Tom Kolditz article ‘Why the Military Produces Great Leaders’ he states, “...military leadership is based on a concept of duty, service, and self-sacrifice; we take an oath to that effect. We view our obligations to followers as a moral responsibility, defining leadership as placing follower needs before those of the leader...” With that perspective, it would seem that leadership is really a servant position. A leader’s primary goal is how he can benefit the people following him.

I find this to be true in a family. The father (or in the case of a single parent, the mother) is the leader of the family. While they are responsible for leading the family, they are also responsible for the provision and care of the rest of the family. They must make decisions based on what is best for those in their care. The above quote said that it is viewed as a MORAL obligation. Scripture says,

1 Timothy 5:8 “Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”

We should take our position as a leader very seriously. It is a position with great responsibility, especially as others become imitators and followers. As a leader we have a great amount of influence on those around us. Consider the fashion industry, each season they design new clothing and LEAD us to believe that it is the “in thing”. Everyone is wearing it and so we must want it too. We look to their opinions and believe what they say. I remember pouring through the Spring JC Penny’s catalogs at my grandmother’s home. By leafing through the printed pages, you could see what the whole world was wearing. You knew just how to dress for success or so they led you to believe. The funny thing is what we start out seeing as ludicrous at the beginning of the season, we are often purchasing a few months later. Our sense of style changes according to our fashion industry leaders and their influence on our culture.

That brings to my mind one of my favorite verses,

Proverbs 27:17 “Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens a friend’s character.”

I often use this verse when talking with my teens. Many times, they will encounter someone who hopes to DULL their character with immorality, compromise, or worldly behavior. I do not tell them not to be friends with that person UNLESS they are being tempted to join in. Instead, I ask them to make sure they are the IRON that is SHARPENING their friend. Their friends might choose to make a bad choice, but I would hope my girls are willing to stand firm and be a leader in the face of temptation.

I find that leaders are not always liked either. Often their decisions are questioned, and their intentions are mistaken. If a leader is not trusted, then chaos will erupt as is evidenced currently in our American political world. However, if a leader chooses to serve without gain, this mistrust is often overcome.

Mark 10:43 “Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,”

Just as Christ came to be the King of the Jews and the salvation of the world, he did so with a quiet and gentle love for others. He did not compromise, rather he taught by example. He had empathy, compassion, and a willingness to serve.

We need to remember that phrase “What would Jesus do?” and then “What will I do?”