Servant leadership. The phrase is so often used that it has perhaps suffered from overuse as a term. There is nothing wrong with the phrase but it perhaps needs a bit of clarification.

Questions:

• How many of us know people in positions of leadership but who fail at serving people?
• How many of us know people who covet the title of “leader” but fall short of leading selflessly?

Connection: At the church I’m privileged to pastor, we are currently going verse be verse through 1 Peter. The apostle of hope ends the second chapter of that epistle by going in-depth on what it means to serve people well. In verses 18-19, for example, he writes, “Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly” (1 Peter 2:18-19).

A key phrase in that passage is “mindful of God.” What Peter means there is this: biblical leaders are to lead well because they live out a life that demonstrates reverence for God. God is the leader’s commander, if you will. And the leader is mindful of that. That cognizance shapes the trajectory of his leading the people God has sent him to shepherd. That awareness of God’s evaluation of his leadership leads him into humble servant leadership of people God has ransomed by his own blood.

Encouragement: Like all things in Scripture, Christ is the supreme model. He is to be the biblical leader’s perfect paradigm. He’s the model. Do we men fall short of that standard? Of course. But that is not reason to not aim for that standard. Servant leadership is a fine phrase; it’s living that out before God and his people that tests one’s mettle.