When George W. Bush was President, he made a surprise visit to
serve Thanksgiving Day dinner to soldiers deployed overseas. One
reporter covering the story thought that some might save their
meal as a souvenir, explaining, “It’s not often that anyone is
served by the President.”
All elected officials are public servants—in a global, symbolic
way—so they are always serving. So it seems that an act of
service should not have been one of the biggest news items of
the day.
Many people have a genuine desire to serve others, but for some,
service is really self-serving. This was true when Jesus was
training His disciples. They were under the impression that
following Him would make them great.
But Jesus quickly set them straight: “Those who are considered
rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones
exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you”
(Mark 10:42-43). Jesus made it clear to them that they were in
training to become servants: “Whoever of you desires to be first
shall be slave of all” (v.44).
We can sign up for any number of leadership training seminars,
but the only good leaders are those who are first and foremost
good servants. — Julie
Ackerman Link
They truly lead who lead by love,
And humbly serve the Lord;
Their lives will bear the Spirit’s fruit
And magnify His Word. —D. De Haan
A good leader is a good servant.