Servant Leadership

The Swallow and her mate missed the fourth session of Biblical Principles for Leading with Love as well as they had a prior commitment with their church's outreach work to the nearby residents.

Again, it is with gratefulness to the course's moderator who had sent them the notes for that session.

Servant Leadership has often been described as "the Order of the Towel".  It is seen very clearly in John 13 : 1 - 7 when the Lord Jesus took a towel, poured water into a basin, began to wash His disciples' feet then wiped the feet with the towel.  It is an example which He gave that Christians can follow.

Christian leadership is servant leadership.  If one claims to love the Lord, then he must learn from the Lord Jesus, and follow His example.

John 15 : 13 (NIV)
Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.

The Lord Jesus has set another example for Christians when He gave up heaven's glories to come down to earth, to be borne in a humble stable, and to die on the cross for sins He did not commit.  It is an example which the Swallow finds difficult to follow.  Laying down her life for those she loves may still be achieved, but laying down her life for those who are difficult to love?  It is a humbling thought...

Being a servant is hard when one has difficult masters.  So the Swallow is glad that when she serves, she serves her Lord God because it is much easier to please Him than to please men, because "The Lord does not look at the things man looks at.  Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart" 1 Samuel 16 : 7 (NIV).

No matter how difficult or challenging it is, servant leadership is not throwing in the towel...