"The measure of a man is not how many servants he has but how many men he serves."
- Dwight L. Moody
The CHRISTIAN LIFE is a CALL to serve.
Jesus told his disciples, “In this world the kings and great men lord it over their people, yet they are called ‘friends of the people.’ But among you it will be different. Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant." Luke 25-26
Here are 3 Marks of a SERVANT LEADER
1. A Servant Leader seeks the glory of HIS MASTER
Jesus said “Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory, but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him.” John 7:18
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- Public Approval, Position, Power, or Money is NOT the motivation of a servant leader. Jesus and serving HIS WILL for HIS Glory is the primary loyalty of a Servant Leader
- Public Approval, Position, Power, or Money is NOT the motivation of a servant leader. Jesus and serving HIS WILL for HIS Glory is the primary loyalty of a Servant Leader
2. A Servant leader sacrificially seeks the highest Joy of those he serves
“Whoever would be great among you must be your servant . . . even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:26, 28).
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- Ministry is sacrifice, but the impact is transformational for those you serve and for you
- A Servant leader makes sacrifices and puts the needs of others before themselves
PAUL says in 1 Corinthians 9:19, "Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible."
Paul’s leadership lifestyle meant sometimes he abstained from certain foods, he refused financial support from those he served and worked with his own hands to provide for himself. Paul sacrificed daily, went hungry, dressed poorly, was beaten, was homeless, and he also endured disrespect inside and outside the church. He decided not to marry. AND This was all done BEFORE he was martyred.
Paul’s servant leadership bar may have been set extraordinarily high, but all servant leaders will sacrificially seek the high joy of those they serve and what greater JOY than winning SOULS for Jesus Christ!
3. A servant leader is not preoccupied with personal visibility and recognition.
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- We are all called to be like JOHN the Baptist
- John the Baptist was a servant leader when he said of JESUS, “He must become greater and I must become less”
- We are all called to be like JOHN the Baptist
It’s NOT about YOU!”
That reality becomes a relief and if accepted will release you to walk in Servant Leadership. If we make our work less about our own recognition and more about the people we serve we will become the Servant Leaders Jesus has called us to be.
