Servant Leadership: Humility

“For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.” (Luke 22:27, NIV)

As we continue our expose into Servant Leadership this season, our reading brings us to Luke. In chapter 22, Luke recounts numerous events that many Christians will recognize, to include the Last Supper, Jesus’ announcement of a betrayer, and the revelation that Simon Peter will fail him three times, but will return to lead the disciples after Jesus is gone. In this passage, Jesus addresses a dispute among the disciples about who among them is the greatest.

As the disciples argued, Jesus said, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves.” (Luke 22:25-26) His response was pretty clear – if you want to lead, you need to serve.

We could look at it from a practical aspect. Every lieutenant in the military learns that his greatest weakness is also his greatest strength – his men. Enlisted soldiers hold the fate of their leaders in their hands. If soldiers rebel, if they refuse to follow, the lieutenant won’t succeed as an officer. A lieutenant’s first leadership lesson is about humility. While he may be calling the shots, he’s not really the one in charge. He’s responsible, but the power to succeed or fail is entirely in someone else’s hands.

Jesus’ chosen example is as powerful as it is practical. “Who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves?” In stature and power, the one who sits at the table is “greater.” But he’ll starve if someone doesn’t bring him food. He’ll dehydrate and his body will fail if someone doesn’t bring him water. The power, the greatness, rests on the servant who can bring food and water or not.

Similarly, in life and in business, we as Christians are called to serve those who sit at the table. Jesus reminds us that it is our responsibility, and our power, to place others ahead of us, to place their success ahead of our own. Jesus was the greatest leader in the history of humanity, and his choice was to die on the cross so that we could live. He placed us first.

It doesn’t matter if the title on our door says Executive Vice President or if our email signature block says Junior Analyst. We can serve those around us whether we are the one who leads the board room, or the one who cleans it. Service is a choice. According to Jesus, service is the right choice.

Our challenge today is to be humble. Jesus washed his disciples’ feet. He served them bread and wine that would become a sacrament for the eternal Church. He taught them patiently again and again, even when they argued over his body and blood. Jesus was humble. Jesus is King.

What a beautiful example of Servant Leadership.

(Graphic by Arkansasmoneyandpolitics.com)