It is not uncommon to hear the advice and coaching that we need to step forward and become a leader. All of our development programs and leadership classes are geared towards us stepping into the leadership limelight and taking the mantle from someone else. But what if true leadership was more about stepping back versus stepping forward? How can that be, you might be asking? We have ringing in our ears the words that to be a great leader we must be proactive, take initiative, be better than those around us, set the pace and the example for how hard to work, etc. But that is different than what we can learn Biblically about what true leadership is about. In Matthew 20: 26, Jesus is trying to teach His disciples what it takes to be leaders for Him. Just after the mother of James and John had tried to secure heavenly seats of honor for her sons, Jesus provided some straight talk to His disciples when He told them that being a leader who “lords” over others, might be fine for a king, but for them, they would have to provide a different example and lead in a different way. He says; “But among you it should be quite different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant…” This is one of the great verses that teach us about servant leadership. To be a true leader in the eyes of God, we are to be servants to others and ensure that we don’t worry about being first, but learn to be fine with being least. Is God trying to teach you this lesson right now? Is it time to sit back and care for others for a season and worry about the leadership position later? There are no shortages of people who want to be led from a place of service, caring, respect and real support. Now would be a great time to begin practicing a form of leadership that seldom will be taught to you in a corporate classroom, but comes from the greatest instruction guide of all time.

Reference: Matthew 20:26 (New Living Testament)