How Do You Treat Those You Lead?
But Jesus called them 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 become your slave. 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.” Matthew 20:25-28
How would you define leadership? Is it more than just getting people to do what you want them to do?
John manages several teams at work. Each quarter he seems to change his leadership style based on the latest book he’s been reading—and estimated 4.8 billion books are written on leadership every year!
But no one has ever modeled a more radical leadership style than Jesus. He broke with cultural traditions of His day and rebelled against displays of power associated with leadership, resulting in the most radical followers and devoted friends the world has ever seen. So, what would Jesus’s leadership book say?
Well, first, Jesus didn’t use His power or authority to coerce others. He never used fear to control but chose the lowest place, the place of service. He trusted God to honor Him in His humility rather than fighting for honor. Jesus said to his followers, “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 become your slave. For [I] came not to be served but to serve others and to give [my] life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20: 25-28).
Jesus embodied kindness and patience when confronted with the mistakes and flaws of others. His model shows us how God has always intended us to lead others with kindness, patience, and forgiveness. In the workplace, in parenting or serving our communities, we always have the opportunity to demonstrate how God values those we lead.