wash one another’s feet. John 13:14
Read: John 13:13-17, 13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.
15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.
Bible in one year: 1st Chronicles 4:24-6:81, Proverbs 26:15-28
MESSAGE
One
great difference between servant leaders and self-serving leaders is
that servant leaders always look at leadership as an act of service,
while self-serving leaders view leadership as a high status and spend
most of their time trying to protect their status. Servant leaders would
embrace and welcome feedback, viewing it as a source of useful
information on how they can provide better service, but self-serving
leaders usually respond negatively, taking a harmless feedback as a sign
of rejection. In Matthew 20:26b-28 Jesus said;
“Whoever
wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants
to be first must be your slave just as the Son of Man did not come to
be served, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
Servant
leadership is service to others. It is not about lobbying for a
position, nor politicking for power. Instead, it is looking for the
opportunity to serve. This is not attractive to the insecure soul in
need of abundant attention. Servant leaders avoid the limelight and
serve in ways that often go unnoticed. The little things are what make a
servant leader. It may be taking out the trash at home or making the
coffee at work.
No
task is too menial for the servant leader; there is something bigger
than behaviour which distinguishes a servant leader. It is an attitude
which wants to make others succeed. He knows that if those around him
are successful, then there is a good chance that he too will experience
success. He is wise to want what’s best for others.
Jesus served for the glory of God. His ultimate service was laying down
His life in love. In Matthew 10:39, our Lord Jesus who is an example of
a perfect leader says;
“He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.”
Any
leader that is preoccupied with personal interests, protection of
status, and preservation of positions, may not be a good ambassador of
Christ. Another thing that helps you to identify a serving leader is
integrity. They usually men and women of integrity. Proverbs 11:3 says
the integrity of the righteous provides him with direction. Being
someone who wants to please God, there are certain things he cannot do.
Anything God will not be pleased with is a no-go area for him. Being a
man of integrity, he states the exact time of his arrival in the office.
In fact, everyone will strive to arrive before him knowing that he
cannot alter his arrival time. He cannot also compromise the truth. He
will not buy something for =N=100 and say he bought it for =N=500. He
keeps his promises. His word is his bond. His relationship with the
opposite sex is clean. He cannot take what does not belong to him. He
has clean hands and a pure heart. Are you a man or woman of integrity?
Prayer Point
Father, please make me a servant leader, ever focused on your relationship principles in Jesus’ name.
