Back to the Basics of Christian Leadership
'“…whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant…”
-- Matthew 20:26
I’m grateful for the ability to learn from and be encouraged by so many gifted Christian leaders who share their ministries online, especially through social media. These platforms can serve as an important ministry tool to reach people. However, I think we need to keep in mind that while the social media leaders we follow might have big platforms and expansive audiences, that doesn’t mean their leadership is any more important or effective than ours. God does not measure obedience by our number of views or followers. What matters is our servant’s heart, as Matthew 20:26 points out: “…whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant…” We can all serve, therefore we can all be leaders.
When I catch myself comparing my own efforts to others and feeling like I’m coming up short, recalling this verse helps me reframe my mindset. Instead of thinking of metrics I think about connections. Who am I serving currently? Who am I mentoring? Who am I encouraging? I make two lists: one of people with whom I’m actively engaging, and one of the people the Lord is laying on my heart to reach out to. I ask something like, “Who else can I serve and support, Lord? Who am I missing? Give me a burden for these people and open up a door for us to authentically connect.” I’ve always found that He guides me when I ask a question like this.
When we partner with the Lord to serve others, we tap into Biblical servant leadership. This kind of leadership isn’t measured by superficial metrics. When this world fades away, its fruit will remain. This is where I want to put my effort. This is the kind of leadership I want to pursue. Join me. We can support each other along the way.
Questions for Reflection:
1. How do you define servant leadership?
2. Do you ever fall into the trap of measuring your own ministry against the perceived impact of others? I’ve shared that I do, and it can be a hard hole to dig out of. What do you do to maintain proper focus? Does my example seem like something you could apply to your own situation?
