The Servant Leader

“A slave is forced to serve, but servants choose to serve.”

 

                                                                READ: Luke 9:12-13                                                                                                                       

By Ben Dankaka

The term, “Servant leadership” was coined by Robert K. Greenleaf in an essay that he first published in 1970, titled, The Servant as Leader. In that essay, Greenleaf began with the statement, “The servant-leader is servant first”. No doubt, the fundamental aspect of every area of leadership is service. While Greenleaf’s essay has made a great impact on present-day leadership, the principle of servant leadership is originally God’s idea. Think of Jesus Christ for example. For every problem He encountered, He saw it as an opportunity to serve. 

Recall the story of how Jesus fed five thousand people. The disciples had said, “Send the crowd away so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside and find food and lodging, because we are in a remote place here.” His disciples saw the situation as a problem. But Jesus viewed it as an opportunity to serve. So He replied, “You give them something to eat.” With that statement, Jesus challenged the disciples to serve the people. The decision to serve others can be the best decision anyone can make. Serving others does make the leader become a servant but it DOESN’T make him a slave. Today, be willing to serve.

Prayer/Confession: Dear Lord, give me the courage be a servant leader. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: 

 Luke 22:26

Psalm 18:27

Download a FREE copy of the complete edition of Shepherd Daily Devotional - Feb 2022 - The Power to Succeed