KNOW: The Head of a Serving Leader

When developing others our first concern is with who they are—their BEING. Secondly, we focus on proper KNOWING since our leadership beliefs need to align with God’s word. Only then can we put into action (DOING) our beliefs according to Jesus’ serving leadership model.

Knowledge and information have no value until put into action. Consider the farmer who repeatedly plows his field without ever sowing seed. All his work will be in vain, he will never experience the joy of a fruitful harvest or accomplish any meaningful purpose.

Wisdom comes from connecting with God’s purposes. In Luke 2:52, Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. Jesus’ purpose as a young man was to obey both His heavenly Father and his earthly parents. At age 30, his wisdom finally went public, connecting others with God’s purposes.

In Matthew 7:24-27, a wise person built on a foundation of rock whereas a foolish person built on sand. In the first case the wise person not only heard the truth but also applied it; in the second situation the foolish person heard the truth but failed to practice and obey it.

Unfortunately too much leadership throughout history has been characterized by power, control, dominance, manipulation, and coercion based on the world’s wisdom (“foolishness”). Jesus took an opposite approach on the basis of God’s wisdom. Rather than selfishly using others, He served and developed followers, creating trust. Jesus then entrusted them with building His church according to his serving leadership model (see John 13:14-17). The rise and fall of empires based on worldly wisdom stands in stark contrast to the Kingdom of God that will never end.