What would the world look like if we all truly lived by the message of Ephesians 5:21?
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Let’s break this down. According to the dictionary, the word reverence means “a feeling or attitude of deep respect tinged with awe”. I recently heard a Pastor define submit as, “to leverage all I have for the greater good of others”.
So my deep respect for God should lead me to leverage all I have for the greater good of everyone I interact with. All I have would include my time, resources, and knowledge, or in other words anything the individual needs. I think that summarizes servant leadership pretty well.
So what is a simple way to maintain this attitude of submission to others on a daily basis? Six words: What can I do to help? I believe if we always lead with this thought process it would change the game in our society and the world in which we live.
Jesus certainly was great in modeling this question. God saw the world deteriorating in sin, and Jesus asked his Father, “What can I do to help?” He responded to God’s answer, came down to earth, took sin upon his back to the cross, and died for us. Wow!
Within our families, if spouses, parents, and children always led with “What can I do to help”, I believe it would lead to elevated and enhanced relationships.
Within the business world, if all of us always asked, “What can I do to help” it would lead to servant leadership being the predominant way to lead and much more prosperous organizations.
So let’s get in this habit. Can you say it with me?
What can I do to help?
Mark Deterding
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Romans 5:6
I’m thankful to see this article on helping. Believe it or not, I have been persistently discouraged from being ‘a helper’. I have been told in every serious job I ever had that being the resident helper was not doing me any career favors and that I would never get ahead and be promoted or achieve happiness if I was always the first one to offer help. As far a promotions go, that part is true. But I have never lost my sense of helping and I am at my happiest when I know someone else has been able to do their job better because I was able to offer them some help. When I say “What can I do to help?” I mean it with heart level authenticity.
Jane your are such a wonderful model of a servant leader, and living the attitude of “What can I do to help”! I have witnessed it first hand on the fabulous work you have done for Triune Leadership Services. You are impacting this world in an extremely positive fashion due to your heart for “helping”. You are an inspiration for all of us! Thanks.
Thank you, Mark. Just living out my purpose. Your encouragement is authentic and I appreciate that.
“What can I do to help” is the attitude that will lead us back to this leadership style. I like that question and ask it often. When I don’t, I start to go astray. Thanks, Mark.
Skip, you definitely do a fabulous job of asking that question. You are a wonderful model for all of us to follow!
Thank you, Mark. I like your verse, above, and point people there.
Hard to go wrong with that! Thanks Skip. Blessings on the balance of your weekend.