Church leaders, do you want your church body to engage in Body life, living out the one another passages of Scripture with everyone doing their parts? Do you want people to treat their spouses and families well? Do you want them to extend the love of Christ to people in the workplace? Do you want people to reach out with charity and kindness to those in need? Do you want people to work out conflict and find unity in the midst of diversity? — Then follow Jesus’ ways and be an example of servanthood.
Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers – not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. (1 Pet. 5:2-3)
Notice that we’re to be eager to serve, doing so willingly and authentically.
Ways Leaders Exemplify Servanthood
While serving can manifest itself in what we do, it also comes out in our attitudes and how we treat others.
- Leaders have many opportunities to be a servant example by the way they treat those who criticize, falsely accuse, or betray them.
- Leaders can exemplify being a servant in the way they deal with personality conflicts, differences of opinion, and philosophical challenges.
- Leaders can model servanthood in their approach to people who seem unlovable, difficult, or hard to reach.
- Leaders can demonstrate servanthood by respecting all people regardless of age, spiritual maturity, gender, type or position of ministry, etc.
In a world disillusioned and distrusting of people in leadership, someone who authentically leads in these ways as a servant, will tend to get people’s attention in a good way. This is the kind of leader who can make a real impact in people’s lives.
Also Read: Church Leadership Qualities: Be a Servant