Biblical Leadership

“You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” — Gospel of Matthew 20:25–28

“The humble man seeks not to be honored but to serve, for he has learned from Christ that the path to true greatness is the path of the servant.” — Andrew Murray

Who hasn’t experienced hurt from a leader at some point in life? You see examples of it in the news all the time. Why does that happen? Because we live in a broken world where people often chase power, recognition, and control.

But Jesus offers a completely different model.

He tells His followers that leadership in the kingdom of God doesn’t look like the leadership of the world. Leaders in the world tend to “lord it over” people, using authority to elevate themselves. But in God’s kingdom, greatness looks like service.

The kingdom of God turns the world’s idea of leadership upside down.

Why was someone like Mother Teresa so respected across the world? Not because she pursued power, but because she served the poor and the forgotten with humility and love.

Jesus Himself is the ultimate example. The Son of God did not come demanding to be served—He came to serve and ultimately to give His life for others.

When leaders serve, something powerful happens. The cycle of broken leadership begins to break.

Of course, none of us get this right all the time. We all fall short. That’s why repentance matters. When we realize we’ve been chasing our own recognition or building our own little kingdom, we return to Christ and His Word.

Recently this passage challenged me personally: Don’t try to build your own kingdom—just serve.

I think about some of the most respected people in our community. One of the most successful builders here is admired not just because he builds beautiful homes, but because he serves people well. And the more I think about it, the leaders I respect most all share the same trait: they serve.

So today, look for someone to serve.

That’s how we begin to break the cycle of broken leadership and reflect the heart of Jesus to the world.