Upside down

One of the things that makes Jesus so interesting is how he takes what we would consider the natural thing to do, and turn it upside down; he says to store up riches in heaven not on earth, to love rather than hate our enemies. Jesus also had a lot to say about those who wanted to be great. If you want to become great, if you want to be a leader, then you must first and foremost become a servant.

Jesus teaches that leadership is not about having power or making ourselves feel good. Rather, leadership is about having the grace to serve others. True leadership must be for the benefit of the followers. Unfortunately, the goal of many leaders is to get others to think more highly of the leader. A truly great leader helps people think more highly of themselves. You don't become a leader because it makes you look or feel good. You become a leader because you believe that you have something good to offer to others.

Leaders we admire do not place themselves at the centre; they place others there. They do not seek the attention of people; they give it to others. They do not focus on satisfying their own aims and desires; they look for ways to respond to the needs and interests of those who are under them. They are not self-centred; they concentrate on those who they lead. They clearly demonstrate that they have the greater interests of others at heart.

We can all strive to become leaders, be it in specific areas of life, or just leading by a positive example. Our calling should be to lovingly serve each other in humility, for the greater benefit of our region, our country, and all God's creation.


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