We must ultimately decide between seeking a position and serving people. If we want to be like Jesus, we’ll seek out people whom we can serve.
The key word for greatness in leadership is: others.
Our goal as church leaders, especially, is not to build a great church through other people, but to build great people through the church.
To put it another way, people are not a means to accomplishing ministry. People are the ministry.
That’s how Jesus sees you! He closes His teaching by reminding the apostles that He came to serve them. He was never under their authority. He simply did what he did for their benefit. The ultimate expression of that would be to “give his life for the sheep.” He would go on to lay down his life and die for them.
Dear Delegates of the Salvation Army Convention:
OTHERS!
Signed, General Booth.
Lord, let me live from day to day
In such a self-forgetful way
That even when I kneel to pray,
My prayer shall be for others.
Others, Lord, yes, others;
Let this my motto be.
Help me to live for others
That I may live like Thee.
-From the first meeting of the Salvation Army
This article on greatness in leadership originally appeared here.
