Tag: Selfless

Simple and Selfless

9-11 serves as a powerful reminder in the history of our nation. The closer people are to the individuals who lost their lives that day, the stronger the remembrance.

We are reminded of the incredible benevolent, servant, and sacrificial leadership demonstrated surrounding that event.

Even though we may feel it to be a lesser comparison, we need to note that it is not always about heroic levels of leadership that are remembered in the highlight reels of life.

Perhaps the greatest mark left on the world is the simple and selfless acts done on a daily basis that touch the lives of those in need.

Selfless Leaders

Sports fans around the world often celebrate the thrill of victory but also endure the agony of defeat. Sporting events bring out the best and worst of athletes.

When seen, we cheer the selfless character of those who understand true sportsmanship.

Perhaps the most thrilling part is demonstrated in the leadership roles among team events. The impressive way leaders step up and motivate their teams to give more than they imagined challenges all of us to take note.

Spiritual leaders must step up and motivate others to run a race far more significant than one to win a gold medal that eventually fades away (1 Co. 9:19-27).

Actions and Motives

Leaders give of their time and ability to help others. It demands their attention and willingness to see others reach their greatest potential. Whatever it takes becomes the mindset of spiritual leaders who sacrifice their own will for the will of God.

The idea of selflessness is so interrelated it becomes difficult to distinguish. However, the difference is seen in the action of one and the motivation in the other. Effective leadership will make sacrifices, but the reason they make them is the selfless heart of God’s servant.

These two concepts speak for themselves, but the related ideas help all of us lead with the right actions and motives.

Paul

I love Paul’s leadership, and here is why. He was…

Passionate: As a persecutor of the church, he pursued it with passion. He even raised his level of passion when he became a defender of the faith.

Bold: Paul asked the church to pray for his boldness and it was demonstrated throughout every step of his ministry.

Selfless: Paul became all things to all men so that he might save some. He endured great hardship for others to learn about Jesus.

If we could approach our leadership with the passion, boldness, and selflessness of Paul, we could change the world.

Selfless Leaders

There is some powerful implication behind this idea for leadership.

We live in such a self-centered world. Our efforts and concerns tend to be primarily structured in a “what’s in it for me” mentality.

The selfish mindset is so subtly developed and so difficult to overcome. Albert Pike said, “What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal.”

Our leadership will fail miserably and our legacy devoid of meaning unless we learn the last half of this thought.

All we do should be done for others and the world. This is what truly lasts.

A Winning Combination

Paul identifies the need for Christians to have the same mind that was in Christ (Phi. 2:5), but what is that mind?
Notice the phrases that characterize the mind Paul wants all Christians to possess.

1) Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit.
2) With humility regard others as more important than yourself.
3) Do not look out for your own interests.
4) Look out for the interest of others.

These four phrases are summed up in the life of Christ: a selfless humility that puts others above self.
Jesus and others is a winning combination for leadership.

Actions and Motives…

Leaders give of their time and ability. They possess a willingness to help others reach their greatest potential for God and His church.

Leaders are also selfless. While the ideas are interrelated and it can become difficult to distinguish them, the difference is the action of one and the motivation in the other. 

Effective leadership makes the sacrifice, but the reason they make it is the selfless heart of God’s servant.

William Barclay once said, “Always give without remembering; always receive without forgetting.”

The thought speaks to actions and motives. It should motivate us to lead this way.