In order “to serve God, we must know how to serve one another.” I started saying this 25 years ago when it wasn’t so popular in the church world. Many ministers felt that they were in a position to be served, and not to serve. Today, the attitude has changed and I believe there is a movement of “servant leadership”.
Jesus started this movement 2000 years ago, when He said, “I came not to be served, but to serve…”. Servant leadership does not imply that we serve to please others. A servant leader is one that will begin with a vision. Jesus, in his 3 1⁄2 years of ministry, cast a vision to His disciples. He served them by giving clear direction. For example, Jesus said, “Come, follow Me…and I will make you fishers of men.” Jesus invested the next 3 1⁄2 years communicating vision to His disciples.
God has called us to be a servant leader. In doing so, He has also equipped us with a vision. We serve others well when we are able to communicate clearly the vision God has given us. Vision becomes reality when you see others in your group working on the God- given vision. That’s the goal of every good leader!
Ken Blanchard said, “The journey of life is to move from a self-serving heart to a serving heart. You finally become an adult when you realize that life is about what you give, rather than what you get.” Jesus said it well when he said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” There is a lot of joy in giving, and there are many ways to give when you serve! In serving others we truly serve God. Matthew 10:42 says, “And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded.”Find ways to give to those you serve.
Here are a few:
• Give a clear vision of the ministry.
• Give hope to those that may feel hopeless. • Give encouragement to those that may feel discouraged.
• Give opportunities for people to serve others.
“Servants, do what you’re told by your earthly masters. And don’t just do the minimum
that will get you by. Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God,
confident that you’ll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate
Master you’re serving is Christ.” Colossians 3:22-24 MSG
We are better, serving together!
“Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him.
And a threefold cord is not easily broken.” – Ecclesiastes 4:12
-Bishop Tim Lamb
