Leading with Humility

The world characterizes leaders as those who have achieved so much that others serve them; the Word surprisingly teaches that the best leaders are the humblest of servants. Humility distinguishes authentic leadership.

The Problem

• We discover prideful leaders with massive platforms and loud agendas in every sphere of life.
• Our cultural systems encourage the mindset that to be a leader, one must promote oneself as the hero, demean competition as the problem, and overlook a team as unnecessary contributors.
• True leaders inspire you to make attempts, not just marvel at their accomplishments. 

The authority by which the Christian leader leads is not power but love, not force by example, not coercion but reasoned persuasion. Leaders have power, but power is safe only in the hands of those who humble themselves to serve.

John Stott

The Example (John 13:1-17)

• Jesus understood the frailty of humanity in knowing that all lives on this earth have an expiration date (13:1-2).
• While having complete authority, Jesus displayed staggering humility (13:3-5).
• To identify with Jesus means to embrace servant leadership (13:6-11).
• If the greatest was the humblest, there should be nothing beneath us to honor His example (13:12-15).
• Jesus shows that a service lifestyle is full of unexpected blessings (13:16-17). 

The Adjustment

• Investing in others is humility at its finest because you empower and multiply yourself.
• Do not emulate any leader or leadership style that esteems pride and mocks humility.
• Humility is not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less.
• Christians should never point to themselves as the solution to anything.
• Making all decisions based on how it affects you positively is not the Christlike way. 

Your family, job, and church would benefit if you esteemed humility more than you do.