Servant Leadership

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A billionaire inventor sold his business and went to work with the poor in another country. While there, he was accused of subverting peace, seeking to overthrow the government, and was arrested. During his trial, he was spat on by soldiers, mocked by a large crowd, beaten, and finally executed (Philippians 2:6-8, OGV [Old Guy Version]). 

Admittedly, the English Standard Version has a better translation of Philippians 2:6-8…

Who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross (Philippians 2:6-8, ESV).

Those of us who read the Bible know that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, as a servant leader, earns and deserves our respect, honor, and obedience. However, the phrase “servant leader”, so popular in church and business culture, first originated in a book entitled Servant Leadership by Robert Greenleaf.

When this book was first published in 1977, it attained the lofty status of “read this book or never be a great leader” level of enthusiasm with all the seminary students and other young leaders with whom I associated.

The concept of “servant leadership” in Greenleaf’s book distinctly echoes the example of Jesus in Philippians 2. Read the quote below carefully while considering Jesus and leadership today… 

The servant-leader is servant first. It begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first. Then conscious choice brings one to aspire to lead. That person is sharply different from one who is leader first, perhaps because of the need to assuage an unusual power drive or to acquire material possessions. For such, it will be a later choice to serve—after leadership is established. The leader-first and the servant-first are two extreme types. Between them there are shadings and blends that are part of the infinite variety of human nature.

Do we have servant leaders today? Are we servant leaders? Further defining servant leaders, Greenleaf writes…

The servant-first leader makes sure that other people’s highest priority needs are being served. The best test, and difficult to administer, is this: Do those served grow as persons? Do they, while being served, become healthier, wiser, freer, more autonomous, more likely themselves to become servants? 

Servant leadership, a radical concept in 1977 and still challenging today. Considering today’s political leaders, a seemingly church leadership structure in America that increasingly produces moral failures, and leadership in general, too often considered a means to selfish ends, again: Do we have servant leaders today?

I can’t write claiming 49 years as a pastor, always exhibiting the servant-first mentality, but I did enjoy others reaching their full potential, even at the expense of my personal climb up the proverbial ladder of success. To release others into their calling — as Jesus discipled and released the apostles — gave me joy.

I’m still learning servant leadership. I hope you are too.