The essence of servant leadership is the absence of selfishness.
I heard a young man in church one day ask his pastor about becoming an elder of the church. The pastor’s comment was probably fairly common among church leaders: “When you are truly an elder, you won’t need a title. You will already be known as an elder by the church.”
Titles don’t mean much in the kingdom of God. A title invites the opportunity for us to think more highly of ourselves than we ought. Titles puffeth upeth.
A servant leader embraces accountability. There is no need to be right, only to be heard. The servant leader speaks life into hearers and doesn’t seek credit or validation.
Conflict enters a relationship when a leader demands to be served. Power is dangerous when the wrong hand holds the scepter. A true servant leader doesn’t read his own press clippings. The leader’s sense of self-worth comes from his nearness to the cross.
Servant leaders show more than they tell.
The two most powerful markers of a servant are humility and gratitude. Both markers show up—every day in every way.
A leader demonstrates humility and gratitude without even trying. It comes from within.
The language of a selfish leader reveals the heart. Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.
I can’t serve myself if I have died to self.
Kingdom leaders are servant leaders.
