Lead By Washing Feet

Hans Finzel wrote a book called “The Top Ten Mistakes Leaders Make.” The number one mistake, according to Finzel, is what he calls “The Top-down Attitude.” He says this is “the military model of barking orders to weak underlings.” He calls it the “leadership sin of top-down autocratic arrogance.”

The best example of servant leadership is Jesus Christ. “It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.” John 13:1 (NIV) He then proceeded to wash their feet. The first key to effective leadership that John gives us is to love those we serve. It almost seems that we are taught in the world to do the opposite. How can you “order” people around that you love? That’s the way too many view leadership... “ordering people around” or “overpowering people” to get them to do what you want.

Jesus led by serving. Now, some have tried to make a doctrine out of washing feet. This is the only time the Bible tells us about Jesus washing the disciples feet. It is okay if we want to wash each others feet to symbolize our love for those we serve with, but it is not necessary. The principle Jesus was teaching was “servant leadership.” We lead with the influence of love not strength and power.

Power in fact can be dangerous. It can even be the end of those who don’t understand the difference in power and authority. My friend, Dr. Richard Exley, wrote in one of his earliest works, “Perils of Power,” speaking of several great ministers who had fallen into sinful ways, “Are these evil men, charlatans? Hardly. They are good men, godly men, who suddenly found themselves the stewards of tremendous power.” The Biblical example Exley gives is King Saul, Israel’s first king. Remember how when he was first anointed that they had to find him as he hid “among the stuff?” (1 Samuel 10:22) He was the epitomy of humility. But from that, after being presented with the power of leadership, he became a paranoid and jealous man who tried to kill anyone who seemed to be in line to replace him.

What is the difference in power and authority? James Hunter writes in his book “The Servant,” “Leadership is ultimately rooted in our will. Not forcing our will on others, but demonstrating our will to serve.”

There is a big difference in leading through power and leading through authority. We all have those whether employees, those who work under us as managers, our children, etc. that we can force to do what we want them to do just because we have the power to make them. There are very few people who like to be forced to do anything. Eventually this kind of “power driven leadership” destroys relationships.

Authority is different than power. Power is something you have and force on people. Authority is something you gain –– it’s given to you by the people you lead. How do you get authority from those you lead? Through service and sacrifice. When people see that you have their best interests at heart, when they see you are willing to sacrifice and serve them they will be willing to follow. That’s servant leadership, that’s authority.

The most classic example of a modern servant leader was Sam Walton. He despised corporate fat cats. He could, and would, handle the cash register as well as stock the shelves in any of his Wal-Mart stores. He drove an old, rusty, dented pickup not to prove a point but because it still had plenty of good mileage left in it. He told his staff on more than one occasion that "if American management is going to say to their workers that we’’re all in this together, they’’re going to have to stop this foolishness of paying themselves $3 million and $4 million bonuses every year and riding around every where in limos and corporate jets like they’’re so much better than everybody else."

So, the greatest privilege we have in life, the most powerful thing we can do is to serve others. It’s what Jesus did and it’s what He wants from us. So... go wash some feet today! I think you know what I really mean.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help us today to be like You, to love like You, to lead like You. Help us be submitted to those we serve because they love us and we love them. And bless us with people who serve us because they know by our example that we love them and it is safe for them to love us. AMEN.

Blessings!
Pastor Roger