Moses, put his life at risk for his people. The people had sinned yet Moses spoke to the Lord on their behalf, “this people have sinned a great sin, and have made for them gods of gold. Yet now if Thou wilt forgive their sin; and if not, blot me I pray Thee out of Thy book” (Exodus 32:31-32). God heard and responded. Moses, as a Servant Leader put his followers’ needs ahead of his own.
Brother Lawrence, writing in 1666 and quoted in Devotional Classics, referred to himself as “a servant of the servants of God”, while learning to live a life in God’s presence. He confirmed, “I have no will except that of God’s.” The ultimate goal of any servant is to literally have no personal will other than being committed to serving the master. Brother Lawrence rejected any and all personal desire in exchange for his life goal of serving his one and only true God.
Larry Spears, in his book, Reflections on Leadership, suggests Servant Leaders need to “get on our hands and knees and be prepared to do what we ask others to do.” Imagine the difference in our corporate and spiritual world if the graduates of every Bible College, Seminary or Business school believed in getting on our hands and knees and doing what we ask others to do?
Would you put your career on the line for your people? Are you willing to be led by God? Could you live with absolutely no personal will, with everything dedicated to God? Do you have a sense of being led by an unseen hand? Are you willing and prepared to do what you ask others to do? The test of a Servant is how we react when we are treated like one.
Leadership is learning to serve.
Yours in Service,
Laurie D. Kennedy
Leadership Coach