“Building Leaders Who Build Their Communities”
What does servant leadership look like and why does it matter? Are there actions more or less “servant like” or is it a matter of the heart?
Well, yes and yes. It boils down to intention and then action. Attitudes drive behaviors. I believe one of the strongest attributes of servant leadership is humility. So what is humility, what does humility look like, and why is it important for servant leaders?
What is it?: Thinking of others over ourselves is at the heart and action level. Humbleness, humility, and even humiliation share the same root word, “humilitas”. To think of others over ourselves and to not promote ourselves.
What does it look like? Jesus did not use his position to make people feel beneath him, below him or belittled. Instead, he put his position of divinity aside temporarily and went to the cross. One of the most beautiful models of humility by Jesus was washing his disciples’ feet. (John 13) Peter chided him that “his Lord” could never wash his feet. Our posture is one of washing feet.
Humility answers the question about our ability to understand and use our position and influence for others’ benefit. No matter how popular we are or how influential we are, we use these faculties as ways to serve others. On the other side, maybe we do not feel influential at all and even feel less than others. This actually makes serving somewhat easier and you can recognize how your meekness and gentleness already positions you to make a positive impact on someone else. Humility also says, “I don’t know all the answers and can open up my mind and heart to hear another perspective different from mine”. I don’t have to change my mind, but I can actively listen and realize I may always be wrong or don’t have all the pieces to the entire story. A value of humility allows us to put others’ needs above our own without diminishing your own value.
Why is humility important for servant leaders? Because leading like Jesus means getting down to what is dirty, messy, and uncomfortable with the aim of raising others up. It starts at the attitude level. You may never have to physically wash someone’s feet, or at least not someone outside your family. (I imagine all the mom’s out there can relate to this well) but there is something tender, beautiful, and powerful about positioning others’ wellbeing above ours.
Ways to Wash Feet:
- Serve somewhere on a Saturday- home repair, Habitat build, homeless shelter, food pantry etc.
- Take time to listen to someone wrestling with Covid and its effects, maybe someone recovering
- Wash a neighbor’s car
- Celebrate someone else’s success story
- Listen and understand a viewpoint or perspective different from your own, ask questions.
These build in us and challenge our instincts which are to promote ourselves. Let’s do the good works and let humility point people to our heavenly Father; just as Jesus did.
Have a great rest of your week and weekend as you wash feet,
lisa
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