Humble Leadership
And now, a word to you who are elders in the churches. I, too, am an elder and a witness to the sufferings of Christ. And I, too, will share in His glory when He is revealed to the whole world. As a fellow elder, I appeal to you: Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly-not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God.
Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example.
And when the Great Shepherd appears, you will receive a crown of never-ending glory and honor. In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
1 Peter 5:1-5 (NLT)
_I have to do this for them._ Have you ever felt this way about someone in your care? The burden of their dependency can be exhausting at times. We can become jaded or cynical and view our responsibility as obligatory. When we do this, we miss out on the blessing entrusted to us. To care for others and shepherd them well is the highest honor. It changes our thinking from, _I have to,_ to, _I get to_. It may seem like semantics, but it’s not. It reveals the condition of our hearts.
Whose care is entrusted to you? Peter wrote the passage above to elders in the church. But there’s an application for us entrusted to care for others. We’re all called to lovingly care for the flock God entrusted us. Children? Grandchildren? An elderly loved one? A community group? Are you willingly, enthusiastically leading and loving them or begrudgingly bemoaning the burden?
Humility is the key to leading (or being led, for that matter). Consider Paul’s words in Philippians:
Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
If God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble, then let us humble ourselves. If we’re to have the same attitude that Christ did, then let us humble ourselves. As followers or leaders, the call is the same.
Application:
Take a moment to pray blessing and favor over those you’ve been entrusted to lead. Whether that’s your flesh and blood, a co-worker or someone else-pray for them by name. Then ask God to help you remain humble-but beware! This is a dangerous prayer that you should only make if you mean it.
Prayer:
Lord,
Thank You for allowing me to influence the lives of others. Help me to lead and love with humility and selflessness, just as Your Son Jesus did. Grant me a fresh fervor to serve others and, in so doing, serve You.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?