Security Leads to Service

"Leadership is influence.” - John Maxwell

Influence is defined as “the capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone or something, or the effect itself.”

According to these definitions, we are all leaders. We all carry the responsibility of having an influence on at least one other person. Take a moment to think of some of the people in your community you have “the capacity to have an effect on their character, development, or behavior.” Family. Friends. Co-workers.

Your influence is a real responsibility, and if you ignore it then you’re not refusing to be a leader, you’re just refusing to lead well.

But a more common manner in which we fail to lead well is when we allow our insecurities to twist our influence for misuse and abuse. When we are insecure, we tend to reach for something outside of ourselves in an attempt to create safety and security. Sadly, many leaders reach for their influence in an effort to wield it as a weapon. 

Insecure leaders swing their God-given power to manipulate, dominate, and control. Secure leaders steward their God-given power to serve, give, and empower. Jesus is the greatest example of the power found in a secure leader.

If we were to examine the life of Jesus to see how he stewarded His influence, we would see a life of service stemming from an assurance of security in His Father. His influence looked less like a weapon and more like a towel on the feet of His disciples.

“Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.” –John 13:3-5

Did you catch what preceded the washing of the feet? We’re quick to glimpse over the stirrings in the soul of our Savior in this moment. What understanding compelled Jesus to wash His disciples’ feet?

“Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under His power, and that He had come from God and was returning to God; so He got up…and began to wash His disciples’ feet.”

Jesus knew where His power came from, and He knew where He was going. He knew His influence was a pure, freely given gift from His Father. He was grateful with what He had and secure with where He was going. And from this security he was led to serve.

Security leads to service.

Leadership will bring out our insecurities quicker than anything else, but may we find our security in our Father, not in the influence He has given us. May we be grateful for every ounce of influence we have been given, and may we be secure in where we are going. When insecurities strike, drop the sword and pick up the towel.