How Do You Define Success?

Here is an interesting leadership concept from the teachings of Jesus:

“You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:25-28 NLT).

Jesus here introduces a new concept in leadership: We lead by serving. This was an entirely different idea to the world which had equated leadership with privilege, wealth and comfort. The world today still views it the same way. A successful leader is paid more, lives in the nicest houses, drives the most luxurious cars, enjoys fine dining, wears designer clothes, employs others to serve them, and generally enjoys the highest standard of living. Jesus turns that model upside down. Leadership means giving more and receiving less—giving more of your life’s time and energy to serve those whom you lead and thus having less for yourself.

If you are a leader who believes that the position you have been empowered with is a God-given calling, then your leadership has an added God-given definition. A leader in God’s economy must be more than smart, shrewd, visionary and organized. The successful leader by Jesus’ standards must also become a slave to those whom he or she is called to lead. The successful leader is not the one who gains the most for her or himself, but the one who gives the most for the benefit of others.