This picture embodies my philosophy and style of leadership.
I wish I knew the artist of this wonderful image. I am indebted to his or her visual representation!
In the circles I run in there is a lot of talk about "servant leadership." But in reality, it is far too easy to be the sort of leader in picture #1 - barking out orders, trying to get people to do the work that you're not willing to do yourself, thinking yourself too high to do "that sort of labor," or micro-managing people's work.
I never want to be like that.
Sure, servant leadership carries with it the risk of failing to delegate (and that tends to be my weakness), but that's not really leadership.
The beauty of picture #2 sees the leader not merely serving, but serving with those he's been called to lead. He is the first to do the hard work, but calls others to join him in the hard work.
So, some colleagues turn their nose down at the fact that I move chairs, scrub bathrooms, and dig holes. But I'm not above any of that.
That brings me to today, and the rest of this week. I am serving with Freedom Builders and helping to improve and repair our neighbor's homes.
I have church work to do, a sermon to prepare, and add to that my wife and I need to heavily repair the new rental we're moving into because it is in severe disrepair.
So, why am I spending at least seven hours a day roofing and painting? Because it is showing the love of Christ in a practical way, and gives us opportunities to share the gospel. I want the congregation I serve to participate in this gospel-work . . . and I want to be the sort of leader in picture #2.
I wish I knew the artist of this wonderful image. I am indebted to his or her visual representation!
In the circles I run in there is a lot of talk about "servant leadership." But in reality, it is far too easy to be the sort of leader in picture #1 - barking out orders, trying to get people to do the work that you're not willing to do yourself, thinking yourself too high to do "that sort of labor," or micro-managing people's work.
I never want to be like that.
Sure, servant leadership carries with it the risk of failing to delegate (and that tends to be my weakness), but that's not really leadership.
The beauty of picture #2 sees the leader not merely serving, but serving with those he's been called to lead. He is the first to do the hard work, but calls others to join him in the hard work.
So, some colleagues turn their nose down at the fact that I move chairs, scrub bathrooms, and dig holes. But I'm not above any of that.
That brings me to today, and the rest of this week. I am serving with Freedom Builders and helping to improve and repair our neighbor's homes.
I have church work to do, a sermon to prepare, and add to that my wife and I need to heavily repair the new rental we're moving into because it is in severe disrepair.
So, why am I spending at least seven hours a day roofing and painting? Because it is showing the love of Christ in a practical way, and gives us opportunities to share the gospel. I want the congregation I serve to participate in this gospel-work . . . and I want to be the sort of leader in picture #2.
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