Hello leaders. Welcome once again to the third leg of this series: The God Factor in your leadership. So far, we have examined the place of seeking divine wisdom and guidance in your leadership, and also, leading with purpose. You can have access to these articles as you click on their respective links. In this third part of the series, we want to see why leaders must lead with a servant heart. Understanding this as a leader is germane as it is an integral part of the God factor in your leadership. Now, let us go into it proper!
The notion of the God factor in your leadership, particularly when understood through the lens of servant leadership that Christ Jesus Himself modeled to us from the pages of the Scriptures, introduces a thoughtful and transformative way of leading. Now, this approach first and foremost, is deeply rooted in the understanding that leadership is not about exerting authority or power over others, but about serving them in a manner that reflects Christ’s humility and love. Jesus said something profound with respect to this in Matthew 20:25-28. It says:
“But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. 26 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. 27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
From these verses clearly written above, we can see clearly that the notion of servant leadership or better still, leaders possessing servant hearts, encourages them to adopt a mindset where the well-being and growth of those they lead take precedence over their personal ambitions and desires. This in itself, is what servant leadership entails and is all about. You see, at the heart of servant leadership is the notion of selflessness. Just as Christ laid down His life for humanity (No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father; [John 10:18]), leaders who embrace the God Factor are called to set aside their own needs and prioritize those of their teams, organizations, or congregations.
This selflessness doesn’t imply neglecting personal responsibility but rather aligning personal goals with the greater good. By doing so, leaders create an environment where their followers feel valued, understood, and cared for, which, in turn, nurtures trust and loyalty. People naturally gravitate toward leaders who they believe have their best interests at heart (So Jesus went with him, and a great multitude followed Him and thronged Him [Mark 5:24]), and such a deep trust cannot be manufactured; it grows organically from a consistent practice of selflessness. Further, servant leadership modeled by Christ fosters commitment within teams. When a leader serves from a place of genuine care, it inspires dedication and hard work from those under their charge.
People feel more committed to an organization or mission when they see their leaders being equally committed to their well-being. It’s the classic biblical principle: “the greatest among you must be your servant” (Matthew 23:11). When leaders adopt this mindset, they effectively break down barriers of hierarchy and superiority, cultivating an atmosphere where collaboration and mutual respect flourish. Additionally, this Christ-modeled leadership transcends the conventional corporate or institutional styles that often focus on metrics and achievements at the expense of relational dynamics. Instead, servant leadership infused with the God Factor focuses on relationship-building.
Christ’s leadership was profoundly relational. He knew His followers intimately, understood their needs, and ministered to them accordingly. Leaders who understand this dynamic know that true leadership involves more than managing tasks or projects; it’s about understanding people, their strengths, challenges, and aspirations, and helping them grow into their fullest potential. It is from this understanding that Jesus was able to know and prayed for Simon Peter in Luke 22:31-32. The Bible says: “And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” Jesus knew Peter so well that He was able to tell him what was about to befall him. At some point, Jesus even told him that he was going to betray him, which of course, he did. But in all of these, we would see that Jesus didn’t leave Peter alone. Why? Because Jesus saw in him his enormous potential, and far beyond the weaknesses that the devil was trying to put together to make him stumble and miss his destiny.
Furthermore, when leaders adopt the God Factor in their leadership, they are bound to lead with integrity and moral clarity. The principles of love, justice, and mercy are central to this type of leadership. But it is quite unfortunate in our world today that many leaders don’t understand this yet. Leaders are called to be stewards of the responsibilities and resources entrusted to them, recognizing that they are accountable not just to their organizations but ultimately to God. This accountability shapes their decision-making process, ensuring that decisions are not driven by selfish ambition or short-term gain but by a desire to do what is right in the eyes of God. Jesus said in John 4:34: “My food is to do the will of Him who sent me, and to finish His work.”
In times of challenge or crisis, leaders who embody the God Factor draw upon their faith to maintain resilience and stability. Just as Christ faced adversity with grace, leaders today can lean on their spiritual foundation to guide them through turbulent times. The knowledge that their leadership serves a divine purpose gives them the strength to persevere, even when faced with opposition or failure. This resilience is not only for their benefit but also inspires those they lead to remain hopeful and committed. In 1 Corinthians 4:6-7, Paul said: “Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other. 7 For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it”
Now in the above Scripture, you would see that Paul emphatically stressed that everything he did was for the sake of the people, and not of himself or Apollos who were their leaders at the time. This tells us that the God factor in leadership allows leaders to draw upon their faith to maintain resilience and stability, even in the most difficult times. Now, let us conclude this leg of the series this way: Leadership that integrates the God factor, especially through the model of servant leadership exemplified by Christ, is leadership with a purpose. It is not driven by power or status but by the desire to uplift, serve, and nurture others. Anything that is short of this is no longer servant leadership, and you may want to reexamine what type of leadership you have embraced for a long time now before it is actually too late.
Thank you!
Article Source: Centre for New Dimension Leadership
