About Apostle's Pen
A LEADER IS A SERVANT
[Apostle's Pen]
05/17/2010
By Admin, Admin
The Leader and the Heart of a Servant
A leader, most people would say, is a person who directs, administrates, organizes, makes decisions, delegates responsibilities, and plans for the future. This definition lacks a very essential part of true leadership: a leader is one who serves. A leader of God’s people must have the inner attitudes and motivations, and the outer service, of a servant. Hebrew Meanings The Old Testament translates several Hebrew words as “ servant.” Each presents a certain portion of truth concerning the heart of a servant. “Ebed.” Our first Hebrew word for servant, “ebed,” generally means a slave or a servant. It is used in several applications, all of which apply quite well to a definition of a ministry of leadership. “Ebed” applies to a person who is at the complete disposal of another person (Genesis 24:1-67). A leader of God’s people must be at the complete disposal of the Lord Jesus Christ, and of those whom he is called to serve. A person who works for a master is also described as “ebed” (Deut.15:12-18). In the same way, a leader a leader must work for his master the Lord Jesus Christ. All his work is offered as a labor to Christ, and also to those whom he is called to serve. A Church leader must give over all his personal rights to the Lord Jesus Christ, and to those whom he is called to serve. An “ebed” is also a slave in the service of a king (1Kings 1:9,47). A Christian leader must must be a love-slave of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the king above all earthly kings. Finally, this word also applies to a person who serves in attendance to the temple sanctuary (1 Samuel 3:9). A Christian leader must tend to the temple of God, the Church, with there worship toward God and there service to God’s people.
