True Leaders SERVE.
"Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others." ~ Jack Welch
I read that quote in leadership class today and I find it interesting how successful leaders are the ones who take this belief to heart. Jesus is the perfect example for this. His entire existence on earth was to serve, develop, and save his people. Because of Jesus's focus on the needs of all people, he has thousands of followers. Leaders like Billy Graham, Richard and Sabina Wurmbrand, Amy Carmichael, and many others have become successful leaders because Jesus took the time to develop them.
In contrast, Kings like Charles the first believed in the "Divine Right of Kings" which meant that the only person who was above the king is God. King Charles the first's focus was on himself and what he wanted. He married a princess who believed in a religion that opposed his country's religion and made other selfish choices all in the name of "Divine Right". In the end, his selfish choices got him executed for treason. His focus was on what he wanted and not on what was best for his people.
What type of leader are you right now? What kind of leader do you want to be?
Maybe you aren't a leader right now. Do you want to be? Vocabulary.com describes a leader as someone who "rules or guides or inspires others" and "A leader is the one in charge, the person who convinces other people to follow. A great leader inspires confidence in other people and moves them to action.". As followers of Jesus, we have the opportunity to be leaders who help point people to Christ. You don't have to have to be officially in charge of a group of people. Being a leader is a lot more than being in charge of others. Being a leader is about taking the time to develop those around you, inspiring them to live for God, serving others, and living a life that exemplifies how Jesus wants us to live. The most important aspect about being a leader is focusing on other people instead of being absorbed with your own life.
Here are a few Bible verses and quotes that are helping me in my journey to be a selfless leader:
1. "Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others." Philippians 2:3-4 (NIV)
2. "You have to learn how to be a follower before you can be a leader." (Or something along those lines.) My mom has told my siblings and I this for as long as I can remember. What she means by this is that we have to be able to submit to authority figures. We need to know how to obey orders, serve others, respect people (even when we don't agree with them), and be humble. Learning how to follow also helps us to understand the people we are leading since we have been in the same place that they are in now.
3. "Jesus called them together and said, 'You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, 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 as a ransom for many.'" Mathew 20:28 (NIV)
4. "A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. Jesus said to them, 'The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.'" Luke 22:24-27 (NIV)
5. "The King is under the Law for it is the Law that makes him a King." C. S. Lewis. I included Lewis's quote in this list because I believe that it is important to realize that you don't have a "Divine Right". Whatever rules are made are meant to be obeyed by everyone, including the leaders. Being under the law yourself makes it easier for you to create fair rules, as well.
6. "It is better to lead from behind and to put others in front, especially when you celebrate victory when nice things occur. You take the front line when there is danger. Then people will appreciate your leadership." Nelson Mandela.
7. "A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves." Lao Tzu.
8. "Leadership is unlocking people's potential to become better." Bill Bradley.
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10. "Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you." John 13:15. Follow Jesus's example. He decided to wash his deciples feet which, in that time, was a job given to the lowliest servant. Jesus humbled himself and served his followers. That is true leadership.
These are just a few things that God has been teaching me lately that I wanted to share with all of you. Also, I highly suggest reading the chapters in the Bible that contain the verses that I put in this post. Some of them are a bit confusing and the context will give you more insight for what those verses mean.
One last thing. I would really like to know how you are being a leader right now. How are you directing your focus on developing those around you? How can you improve your leadership skills?
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