As a leader I am always dealing with problems. People problems. Structure problems. Financial problems. Sometimes, problems can be viewed as job security for a leader. No problems—no need for a leader.
I don’t believe it’s necessarily the problems leaders face that make leadership so difficult, but rather, the leaders themselves. I believe leaders tend to lead for the benefits of leadership.
The Dark Side of Leadership
Leadership often comes with acclaim, perks, attention and applause. The dark side of humans loves these things, so it is common for people to be drawn to leadership positions for all the wrong reasons. Over time, when the true motivations are revealed or exposed, all those following the leader tend to lose trust, not only in that leader, but also seemingly in all leaders. Examples abound, from presidents to CEOs to coaches to pastors and on and on. Leaders can and do abuse their position for personal gain. The result is a genuine hostility toward authority in general.
When Jesus was alive, two of his disciples asked him for a favor. Their request was, “When you sit on your glorious throne, we want to sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left.” (Mark 10:37) What a request! Jesus had talked with them about the future. They knew there would be a new Kingdom set up, and they just could not resist the opportunity to get in good with the future King. We all like to be honored and praised. It is human nature to want all of the attention to be on us and to be recognized and seen as special.
Once the other disciples heard what James and John had asked of Jesus, they were furious; however, their anger only served to show that they, too, had the same spirit as James and John. We are all infected.
Jesus Shows Us a Better Way to Lead
At this time, Jesus stepped in and called a meeting. He gathered all the disciples together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else.” (Mark 10:42-44)
Incredible! Jesus explained that when it comes to true spiritual leadership, the path is one of servanthood. We are not to lead with the primary motivation of “What’s in this for me?” Instead, our primary motivation should be, “How can I meet the needs of others?” That is what makes a true servant leader.
Jesus used Himself as the ultimate example. In the next verse He says, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45) When Jesus gave His life for all humanity on the cross, He met our greatest need, redemption. We needed forgiveness and grace and spiritual life. His sacrifice made all of that possible. The cross is the greatest symbol of love, but it is also the greatest symbol of servanthood.
Robert Greenleaf, author of Servant Leadership, said it best, “A servant-leader focuses primarily on the growth and well-being of people and the communities to which they belong.”
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