Ronald Reagan, who was a great servant leader, once wisely said, “In the end, it all comes down to leadership.”
All of us, in some way or another, are leaders in some area of our lives, because as John Maxwell puts it, leadership is influence, and we all have influence.
And one of the greatest ways to leave a positive impact through our influence is to not just to be a leader, but to strive for being a servant leader.
Over the past few weeks, I’ve been blessed to attend a couple of conferences that have sharpened my edge as a leader, and I’ve also been privileged to rub shoulders with and learn from some really great leaders in ministry.
In observing the way that these leaders have led and conducted both themselves and their ministries, I’ve been reminded of some important qualities that every servant leader should possess. Here are a few of them:
1. Servant Leaders are Passionate yet Humble
I’ve watched some great leaders who are well-known experts in their field share their passion for God’s calling upon their lives, yet they’ve done it with great gentleness and humility.
Arrogance is often the enemy to humility, and people who are arrogant about their position will rarely be viewed by others as a servant leader.
2. Servant Leaders are Confident yet Kind
There’s a big difference between arrogance and confidence. Good leaders know their stuff and they know that they know their stuff, yet their confidence never comes across as superiority over others. Servant leaders are both confident and kind in their delivery of knowledge.
In learning from some great ministry leaders, I never felt put down or less important because they had more knowledge, better resources, a larger ministry, etc.
In fact, in visiting with many of them personally, I’ve been reminded that they are just normal people like the rest of us, on a journey to make as big of an eternal difference as possible.
3. Servant Leaders are Expectant yet Servants Themselves
Servant leaders have expectations of those they lead, as they should, yet they’re also willing to serve in the trenches alongside of those they lead when needed.
It’s been encouraging to see both those being led and those leading taking on the attitude of a servant to help and equip others.
Jesus had expectations of His disciples, yet He still washed their feet. May we never mistakenly think that serving is only for those below us.
4. Servant Leaders are Busy yet Flexible
Servant leaders who are getting the job done are usually very busy like the rest of us, yet they’re not too busy to take the time to meet needs along the way when they’re able.
Some of the most life-changing moments in my ministry journey have been times when a busy leader took the time to meet my need when it would have been easier to overlook it.
5. Servant Leaders are Good at Loving People, but even better at Loving Jesus
Servant leaders make an impression upon the lives of those they meet, because their love for Jesus displays itself in their love for others.
I’ve been reminded that before I can love people the way that’s needed, I must first love Jesus the way I’m commanded.
If I ever get the two out of order, and my relationships with people start coming before my relationship with Jesus, I have taken a step in the opposite direction of true servant leadership.
We must always keep it in this order – If I always love Jesus before I love people, I can truly love people because I love Jesus!
Servant leaders are:
- Passionate yet Humble
- Confident yet Kind
- Expectant yet a Servant
- Busy yet Flexible
- Good at Loving People, but even better at Loving Jesus
In whatever way God had placed you in leadership… at home, in ministry, or on the job, can you say that these qualities of servant leadership describe you?
“And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant.” – Jesus
