Leadership in the Bible

Leadership is a quality anyone can have, but true life changing leadership requires selfless action and love for those being lead. Some of the greatest examples of profound leadership can be found throughout the bible. Some of my favorite examples are in the Old Testament however, Jesus provides us with the best examples of serving and leading selflessly. His whole worldly mission was to serve God and His people.

Jesus’ servant leadership is something we should all strive for. Servant leadership is different than the traditional leadership we are use to seeing in the corporate world. The kind of leadership Jesus models is all about serving, growing, and caring about the well being of the people and community we serve.

People are drawn to those who serve. Leaders who serve their community add value not only to the community or group they serve, but also to the individuals themselves. Whether we are talking about leadership in the church, through different religious ministries, city/state government, or even the president of the country, these charactaristics and ideals should be strived for.

10 Charactaristics of Servant Leadership

• Love: The greatest gift God gave us was love. Our love for the people around us, needs to be at the center of our leadership.
• Empathy: If we cannot relate to and feel for our people, we can’t possibly expect to lead them. Good leaders are capable of putting themselves in others shoes and adapting their plans to meet the people where they are in the moment.
• Humility: A humble leader is a good leader. When we can find and recognize our faults and limitations, we can better come together with those around us.
• Visionary: Without God’s vision, nothing is possible. We need to keep our eyes and ears on God and follow through with His plans for our ministries.
• Courageous: Being a leader sometimes means going up against critism, negativity, and hard times. Our soldiers may be the bravest of leaders, but they are not the only ones needing courage. When leaders come to push back from the media, community, and others they serve, it can be hard to stand strong in what is right. God grants us the courage and the wisdom, and it is our responsibility to stand up and hold steadfast in our faith in order to continue to lead God’s people.
• Persuasive: This does not have to be a negative term. Persuasive people have an ability to turn visions into action. They can speak to a room and bring people together in ways that benefit the group and mission as a whole.
• Sacrifice: Following God is never easy. Leading His people is not always easy either. It takes dedication and sacrifice to bring to fruitation the visions that God has for you and His kingdom.
• Trusting: Not only in God, but in the people, and ourselves. Without trust, there is no leadership. If you can’t trust and believe in the community, your voice is falling on deaf ears. We have to give trust to gain trust.
• Healer: This does not mean in the medical sense, but rather the ability to hear, comfort, and console those who are hurting emotional, spiritually, or physically. To have a healing personality is cruical for a leaders ability to serve the people.
• Forgiving: Not only of the people who do them wrong, but forgiving of themselves. Leaders are human too, we are all going to fail at some point. Continuing to harbor our failures and resentments clouds our ability to lead well.

Jesus’ Prime Example of Leadership: John 13

In John 13:1-17, we see Jesus perform the lowest of duties in washing his disciples feet. Jesus says “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord’, and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messanger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” (John 13:13-17).

This is one of the most profound acts Jesus does for his disciples. He lovingly and humbly washes the dirt and grime off their feet without complaint and with compassion for them and their ministry going forward. This was one the last things He did for them before He died. Jesus’ whole reason for this act is to show them what is expected of them in the future when they take to the world and share the good news of the gospel. It is not enough to simply KNOW servitude is the ultimate form of leadership, but we need to ACT on it. Serving others and becoming a slave to God is the type of leadership we are being called to.

Humble servant leaders are brought forth by God all over the old testament, and Jesus is a constant reminder that this type of leadership is exactly what we are called to do. In Mark 10 when Jesus is asked to save a place for James and John, His response is very telling of who and how we will get into the kingdom of God. “…You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:42-45). This passage like so many others in the New Testament speaks volumes to the importance of servitude. Jesus was not just here to redeem us. He was here to provide an example of what true leadership looks like. To serve others with humble grace, is to lead well.

An Attitude of Servitude

God calls us to step into a role of leading others through servitude. Only then, will we see the power of God shine through our actions, take hold, and ultimately help and change the people we are trying to lead. In today’s world, no one wants to hear or even talk about being a slave to anyone. The history and visions the word slave or slavery invokes is hard to swallow and is down right uncomfortable. It’s hard to imagine that being a slave to the world is what God would want, however, the truth is, an attitude of servitude was around even before time began. God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are all different entities and the Son, and Holy Spirit both serve God the Father. They were created to be slave to the Father, carrying out His will and doing nothing except what pleases Him.

Below we can find several instances throughout the bible where we can find this truth.

• Matthew 20:26-27 “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave.”
• 1 Corinthians 9:19 “Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.”
• Philippians 2:3-6 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.”
• 1 Peter 5:2-3 “Be shepards 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.”

3 Types of Biblical Leaders

There are three main types of leaders found throughout the bible. It is true that most leaders will fall into more than one of these categories, however there will usually be one attribute that sticks out more than the others.

• Called: These are people who are called by God into leadership roles. They are generally people who do not see themselves as leaders, even feeling unqualified to lead others. However, God has set in them great works and they are called to follow His vision. Called leaders are prime examples of the servitude that we are called into.
• Brave: This is not only reserved for our soliders of war, but anyone who has the courage to step up and stand strong in their faith despite persecution.
• Annointed: These are leaders consecrated with oil during a ceremony. Priests, kings/queens, prophets, and other royal or holy people who dedicate their lives to God and His kingdom.

People from all walks of life have the capability of being great leaders. God will find favor in all His people, no matter their background, age, sex, or ethnic heritage. Remain steadfast in faith and rely on God to bring you to where He wants you to be. God was with Jesus always, and He will remain with us today, yesterday, and forever. Servant leadership has the power to bring forth great leaders that not only serve God and others, but ultimately change the world around us.