Jesus Measures Leadership by Service

In summary of

Mark 10:42b-3 it say,

“They let leadership go to their heads and lord/power over others.  But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant”

Bottom line:

Don’t let leadership go to your head thinking that you’re better than others, instead you serve the rest just like a servant.

What this means to me:

Being a leader doesn’t give me the privilege to kick back, not work hard and power over others.  Instead Jesus explains that a leader is one who serves the needs of the ones they lead.  So for me this means that I need to be careful to not be selfish and lord / power over others.  To do a leadership job that pleases Jesus, I need to have a servants heart and be willing to serve in the way that I lead.  Our culture / world defines being a leader or greatness in terms of power, possessions, prestige, and position. When you can demand service from others, you've arrived. In our self-serving culture with its me-first mentality, acting like a servant is not a popular concept.  Yet God will determine my greatness by how many people I serve and not by how many people serve me.  If I’m not careful (not keeping in mind a having a servant's heart) I can easily be tempted to misuse my God-given SHAPE (spiritual gifts, heart, abilities, personality, and experiences) for my own personal gain. While knowing my SHAPE is important for serving God, having the heart of a servant is much more important.   My shape will reveal my ministry, but my servant's heart will reveal my maturity. No special talent or gift is required to stay after a meeting to pick up trash or stack chairs. Anyone can serve. All it requires is character. The best evidence I can have of a servants heart is to look at the results of what I do.  Jesus said, "You can tell what they are by what they do." (Matthew 7:16 CEV)   Today I will think through my attitudes and be sure I am putting on the heart of a servant especially as I lead others at work today.