Had a fantastic time at cell group this week. Pastor really shared a word in season. The sermon was about servanthood and he branched off and started talking to us leaders about servanthood. This is something that has been in my heart and I’ve questioned silently about how things are done. Often times, leaders see themselves as just that: leaders. And to a lot of people, being a leader means having authority, if not absolute authority, over the people that come under them. And often times, leaders fail to remember Jesus’ teachings in the Bible. That to be at the top, we must be willing to come down to the lowest. Leaders can be so engrossed in exercising their authority that they begin to lose sight of what their actual purpose is, which is to serve those that come under his care.
To serve? Doesn’t that go against common sense? Shouldn’t a leader be served? Well, think of it in this way: if the Prime Minister of a country lived to be served, then wouldn’t the country go to pieces? The prime minister, or president, is there to serve the best interest of the people. A CEO is there to serve the best interest of his company and the consumers.
Similarly, a leader in church is there to serve those under his/her care; to be there to meet the needs of those under him, to make sure that the person under his/her care has room to grow spiritually. And leaders wonder why their flock begin to dwindle. They start pointing fingers at other reasons but when more often than not, it’s the leader himself that needs an attitude check. What has the leader done to get into the lives of his members? What right does the leader have to intrude and command if the leader has never won the respect of his members? What has the leader done to help and influence the growth of the members?
What Pastor Aries shared really touched my cell group members and myself. As leaders, we really have to keep our attitude in check. As leaders, we must always be ready to humble ourselves and serve those around us. A cell group member pointed out: “Am I ready to be like Jesus? To wash the feet of those that are under me?” That is what it means to serve. No matter what the circumstance, whether the member is a contributor to the group or a slower person who needs more time, care and concern.
I really believe that one of the marks of a true leader is the leader’s attitude of servanthood. It’s true that nobody is perfect, but we have the grace of God. Even I still have a lot to learn about being a leader. Leaders want to be the best at what they do and by God’s grace, we will become strong and mighty leaders, ready to influence the people within our circle of influence.