The Best Leaders Are Servants
Read it for me
Cliff's voice
Angela's voice
And Jesus called them to him and said to them, "You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant."
Mark 10:42–43
The best leaders are servants.
Jesus is flipping the script on leadership here. He looks at the way the world's rulers operate, lording it over people, exercising authority, using a title to get their way, and He says plainly: "It shall not be so among you." That's not how we do things anymore.
Scholars sometimes call this the cruciform life: arms stretched wide open for the sake of the world, the shape of the cross. It's the way Jesus led. He had every right to be served, and He came to serve instead.
And here's the thing: it works. People will work harder for a servant leader than for a boss. They don't respond to being lorded over the way they respond to being loved on. Whether you lead a company, a team, a church, a classroom, or a family, the way of Jesus is the better way.
So think about how you are leading right now. Are you leaning on your authority, your title, your role? Or are you serving the people God has put in your care? Change your posture to servanthood this week, and watch how people respond.
Adapted from The Gospel Driven Leader, a 40-day devotional written by Jason Holdridge for The Ancient Path.
Prefer to hear it in Angela's voice? Listen here.
Closing prayer
Father, I want to lead in a way that honors You and lifts others up. Lead me in the way of humility and servant leadership. By Your Spirit, show me where pride and ego have gotten in the way, and help me turn from them. Let me lead the way Jesus led. In Jesus' name, amen.