A Management Model and a Meddling Mother

“A common misconception about senior leadership is that the higher you rise in the organization, the more authority and freedom you have to follow your dream and lead your vision. In fact, the opposite is true; the higher you rise in any organization, the more you give up your rights and the fewer options you have. You sit in the chair you do to serve others.” – Dan Reiland, The Pastor’s Coach

It’s called “servant leadership” and it is the management style that Jesus modeled consistently and unerringly before His disciples. It is also the highly demanding and unconventional leadership strategy that He commanded them to follow… no ifs, ands, or buts about it.

For instance, when a dispute arose in their midst because of a request by James and John’s meddling mother for them to sit beside Jesus in His kingdom, here is how He settled the debate.

“Jesus called them together and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave – just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.’” Matthew 20:25-28 (NIV)

In other words, Jesus turned the conventional leadership dynamic on its head… and then backed it up by first washing His disciples’ feet (see John 13:3-17); and then by laying down His life for His sheep as their Good Shepherd (see John 10:7-18).

His agenda was totally submitted to His Father’s agenda – and His Father’s agenda was for Jesus to “seek and save the lost” (Luke 19:10) by living a perfect life and then dying a sacrificial and atoning death to redeem their souls (2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 5:8).

As Dan Reiland put it, “The higher you rise in responsibility and authority, the more people you report to, not less. It may not be in a formal reporting structure, but you are responsible to them nonetheless.”

Yes, Jesus ultimately reported to the Father, but He was also responsible to – and for – His flock (see John 6:39, 17:6-19; and 18:7-9). May we, His disciples, follow in His oversized but simple footsteps by becoming servant leaders and not overbearing lords and masters.

“Truly, truly, I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.” John 13:16 (BSB)

- Rev. Dale M. Glading, President