After having completed reading a book on leadership, I was reflecting on the essence of what true leadership means when my focus was turned to John 13.
Here Jesus washes the feet of His disciples, and even after having done this, none of them offer to do the same for Him. He then contrasts the false concept the world has of leadership to what true leadership entails.
True leadership embodies taking initiative to serve and forgive others instead of waiting on others to serve or apologise to you. It is leadership by example and not in words only.
True leadership is not about making others suffer the agony by doing all the work so that you can receive the glory i.e. all the credit. True leadership is about the leader sometimes having to bear the brunt of agony and responsibility now, in order to celebrate the glory and victories that come in the future with his followers.
True leadership precedes the title. You don’t become a leader by being given the title. Rather, you are given the title because you are already a good leader. Being a good leader means knowing your identity in Christ, and not regarding yourself as superior to your followers.
"The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them;and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye shall not be so;but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve." -Luke 22:25-26, read John 13
