A Biblical Man is a Servant Leader

by Mark Pickett

“It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave.” -Matthew 22:26-27

Having the chance to be a leader is an awesome opportunity. You could be an older brother, captain of your sports team, or the person in your group of friends that everyone looks up to. In every stage of life, you will have opportunities to lead others.

Think about those people in your life who have been leaders. What has been their style of leadership? Do they tend to be harsh, showing very little compassion and mercy? Do they tend to show genuine care for others, concerned about their wellbeing? You may have seen examples of both types in people you know.

Jesus always had the heart of a servant, in his role as a leader. The Bible tells us that in 1 John 2:6, “whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.” That means that we, too, are called to be servant leaders.

Jesus taught his disciples that their actions toward others must have the attitude of a servant. He demonstrated this to His disciples by washing their feet. He was explaining to the disciples they were to live their lives in humble service to others, even when in roles of leadership.

Philippians 2:6-7 tells us that Jesus, “who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.” Servant leaders, like the example of Jesus, always lead others to bring honor and glory to God the Father, not to promote themselves.

In today’s culture of leadership, there is a spirit of self-promotion and a lack of humility. Jesus calls us to a higher form of leadership, one where we lead to bring honor to God our father, and where others come first. The world needs men of God to lead well in their homes, schools, churches, workplaces, and communities.

Whatever leadership opportunities come your way, always look to the example of Jesus in Matthew 20:25-28:

“But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Journaling Page for Servant Leadership

How can you be a servant leader in your home, school, church, community?

Is there someone in your life that is a servant leader you can talk to about getting started?

Other thoughts and scriptures about servant leadership: