When Will I Be an Elder of the Church?

The essence of servant leadership is the absence of selfishness.

I heard a young man in church one day ask his pastor about becoming an elder of the church. The pastor’s comment was probably fairly common among church leaders: “When you are truly an elder, you won’t need a title. You will already be known as an elder by the church.”

Titles don’t mean much in the kingdom of God. A title invites the opportunity for us to think more highly of ourselves than we ought. Titles puffeth upeth.

A servant leader embraces accountability. There is no need to be right, only to be heard. The servant leader speaks life into hearers and doesn’t seek credit or validation.

Conflict enters a relationship when a leader demands to be served. Power is dangerous when the wrong hand holds the scepter. A true servant leader doesn’t read his own press clippings. The leader’s sense of self-worth comes from his nearness to the cross.

Servant leaders show more than they tell.

The two most powerful markers of a servant are humility and gratitude. Both markers show up—every day in every way.

A leader demonstrates humility and gratitude without even trying. It comes from within.

The language of a selfish leader reveals the heart. Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.

I can’t serve myself if I have died to self.

Kingdom leaders are servant leaders.