Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Service
MMI had a great post on leadership a while back.
Servant-leader is a great concept, but like all such concepts it is perverted by some. Many think it means to offer the service people want. And yet, is that not what the pornographer does? A servant-leader is always first in service to God, which measn that as they serve us they want the best for us, not what we perceive as the best. Our perceptions are skewed by sin and often what we think best is not.
It is important to remember that we are not undergoing a process of improvement, but of remaking. The leader serves us as the carpenter services my kitchen during a remodel. Step one is demolition. Demolition hurts, but a servant-leader is able to help us see the purpose behind the demolition so that we suffer it with enthusiasm.
My opinion, the entire church groans for genuine servant-leadership. How come we are not raising such people up?
Related Tags: leadership, servanthood
I’ve written about some of the ways that leadership endangers the soul. One danger is power. While power is necessary for effective leadership, it can be toxic to one’s character and spirituality. Power and humility often seem mutually exclusive; it’s tough to have both at the same time. Another danger is egotism. Leaders tend to be upfront, go-to people for permission granting, problem solving, and advice giving. They’re better known than others. All of this tends to inflate their egos. Fame, influence, position, and perks can easily lead to excessive pride, arrogance, and conceit..."In a sentence, good leaders, uncommon leaders, godly leaders do not make themselves or their organizations "better," they make the people in them better.
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Common leaders think of themselves as people who seize opportunities and help others and organizations get things done. Some see themselves as leaders who serve. But uncommon leaders think of themselves as servants…who lead.
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After you’ve been in the company of a servant-leader, you feel more impressed with yourself, not less. You don’t feel intimidated; you feel motivated. You’re enthusiastic about participating, and you desire to commit.
Servant-leader is a great concept, but like all such concepts it is perverted by some. Many think it means to offer the service people want. And yet, is that not what the pornographer does? A servant-leader is always first in service to God, which measn that as they serve us they want the best for us, not what we perceive as the best. Our perceptions are skewed by sin and often what we think best is not.
It is important to remember that we are not undergoing a process of improvement, but of remaking. The leader serves us as the carpenter services my kitchen during a remodel. Step one is demolition. Demolition hurts, but a servant-leader is able to help us see the purpose behind the demolition so that we suffer it with enthusiasm.
My opinion, the entire church groans for genuine servant-leadership. How come we are not raising such people up?
Related Tags: leadership, servanthood
