At Christmas time we think about the birth of our Savior and King. When we reflect on His entrance to the world we realize it was not grand. He was born out in the cold, in a stable where animals live, and his bed was a trough where they eat their food. Our worldview expects kings or leaders to live in royalty surrounded by servants waiting on them day and night, with all their needs met. However, our King Jesus shows a very different example of leadership. His followers were so concerned with and competed to be first and Jesus said to them, "If anyone wants to be first he must be the very last, and the servant of all." Jesus was a walking example of the type of leaders we should be. There was nothing prestigious about the way He lived on this earth. He was constantly moving place to place on foot and had no valuable possessions with him. He had relationships, the most valuable gift.

Most of us fulfill some type of leadership role, maybe in our jobs, ministry, or even our households. A good leader does not esteem him/herself higher than others and primarily focus on their status and success. Having a desire and ambition to be successful is not a bad thing, but be careful not to exclude obedience and service. A self seeking leader uses people on his/her road to success, which leads to pride and arrogance.A real leader has a servant's heart and a desire to help others. Servant leaders appreciate others and recognize their worth. Striving for the extravagant lifestyle should not be our focus. It is more important to focus on serving others. You make time for others to invest in helping them grow and succeed. Spend time with them, showing an interest in their dreams and goals, encouraging them to pursue, and expressing appreciation.  A friend of mine recently opened her home to establish a forum for women to share their stories and to minister to each other. She is showing commitment, helping women feel valuable, making her home a refuge and serving these women.  She is an example of Jesus and being a Servant Leader.