Written by Barry-Werner on January 28th, 2011. Posted in Attitude, Fairness, Humility, Jeremiah, Leadership Principles, Old Testament, Personal Development, Servant Leadership. Godly leaders do not use their power for personal gain at the expense of those being led. Read Jeremiah 5:26-31. More often than not, leadership skills are used for personal gain and career advancement rather than in service to others. Jeremiah addresses this issue and indicates God’s anger toward the leaders in Judah that had “grown fat and sleek” by using deceit and whose evil deeds seemed to have no limit. They had perverted the legal system and the powerless were stripped of what little they had. God had very strong words for these leaders when He said, “Should I not avenge myself on such a nation as this.” Good words for today’s leaders whether they lead in a family or lead our nation would be, “Woe to the leader who uses power for personal gain at the expense of those being led.” At some point in the future every knee will bow at the name of Jesus who left heaven and came to earth in the form of a servant leader. Leaders who think Jesus’ standard for evaluating their use of the gifts He gave them is different than the standard He established while He was on earth should re-think their position. A Biblical view of servant leadership makes evident that the service we render to others is really a measure of the service we render to God. Wise Christian leaders understand Christ Himself is the model of the servant leadership mindset, and He commands His followers to imitate His service. In John 13:1-17 when Christ washed the feet of His disciples He was giving them a visual parable of the use of power in God’s kingdom. When He returned to the table Jesus explained what He had just done by saying, “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 messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them” (John 13:15-17). In Matthew 10:39 Jesus said, “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” How do you relate this truth to the issue of servant leadership? The manner in which a leader uses their power will indicate the quality of their leadership in His final evaluation of their stewardship. Matthew 25:40, “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’”Do you have a “servant-leadership” mindset? (159-5)
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