The Value of Servant Leaders for God’s People
Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said to him, What says my lord to his servant? — Joshua 5:14
This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. — 1 Timothy 3:1
Author
Faustino de Jesús Zamora Vargas
Summary: God’s people need servant leaders who are upright, humble, and submitted to His will. Although no leader is perfect and all face temptation, character and spiritual maturity matter more to God than abilities. Nehemiah showed how dependence on God, steadfastness, the willingness to give up comforts, and devotion to the people shape faithful leadership. We are not born leaders: we grow through obedience and consecration, following the virtues of Jesus. If we feel called to lead, let us examine our hearts: let us serve to please God, not people, and care for His sheep. He can give us the power we need to do so.
I believe in Christian leadership that serves God’s people with integrity and virtue. Personally, I prefer to forget the disappointments I have experienced in this regard. We know full well that no one is perfect, least of all someone who serves as a leader,
who continually suffers the many temptations that come from the world and from God’s particular dealings with them. Being a servant, on the other hand, is a condition, a position of humility and submission to God’s will. Being a servant-leader is both a role and a condition, and it is a very serious matter to the Lord. Sociologists say that the world today is suffering a profound crisis of leadership. Most theologians agree that the church of Jesus Christ needs, now more than ever, virtuous leadership with a servant’s heart.
Nehemiah proved to be an exceptional leader. He was upright, watchful, wise, sensible, and possessed an identity (character) that could withstand any test. His dependence on God and His word, his faith and resolve to do God’s work, his personal commitment, his renunciation of comforts, and his devotion to guiding the people gave him a tremendous spiritual testimony and made him the leader God needed for the people of Israel in his place and time.
Where are the spiritual leaders of our times? One thing is certain: God is more interested in a leader’s spiritual maturity than in their aptitudes and abilities. He wants men and women with servants’ hearts to lead His people, people consecrated like Nehemiah to shepherd His sheep. To God, character and spiritual maturity matter more than the skills and expertise of His disciples today. Leaders are made. No one is born a leader, least of all among God’s people.
The Lord often works through the leadership of humble people who are obedient and consecrated, willing to serve Him without asking for anything in return. They are the ones who bow down like Joshua and say, “How can I serve You, Lord?” (Joshua 5:14b). They are the ones who long with all their hearts to please God and not people. The apostle Paul said to the brothers and sisters in Galatia: “For am I now seeking the favor of people or of God? Or am I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.” (Gal. 1:10).
God’s people need servant-leaders who aspire to grow to the measure of the fullness of Christ (Eph. 4:13), who reflect in their lives the virtues of Jesus’ leadership when He walked this earth. A world in spiritual ruins needs supernatural leadership. I do not mean mystical, but miraculous, because it comes from the only One who has the power to provide it and to impart it to you and me.
If you feel called to be a leader in the Lord’s work, that is of great value to God (1 Timothy 3:1), but first examine your heart by asking yourself the same question Paul asked the Galatians. Serving God for the sole purpose of pleasing Him alone is a challenge worth facing. Live for Christ; serve Him! If you truly love Him, the Lord’s one command will be, “Feed My sheep.” (John 21:15).
God bless you!
Suggested reading: 1 Timothy 3:1–7