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by Danny Mequet

When my wife Missy and I first got married I remember having an argument over how I cleaned the dishes. I was much more upset over the fact that I didn’t get appreciated for my act of service than I was about her disagreeing with how I did the dishes. As I look back, I realize the reason I was so upset about not getting appreciated was because I served with the wrong motives. I wanted her to notice and thank me for my actions, which showed my motivation for serving was self-centered.

As leaders, it is natural to want to accomplish great things, but as we attempt to make a difference in this world we must make sure we have the right heart – the heart of a servant. Jesus does a great job of addressing this issue in Mark 10:43 when he said, “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.”

This verse is powerful because it speaks to the heart of who we are, not to what we do. Many people look at the person who sweeps floors, serves in the nursery or directs traffic in a busy church parking lot as a servant; and there is not doubt that they are. However, many people’s definition of a servant is limited.

Do you think the owner of a multi-billion dollar business would be considered a servant by most people? How about a small group leader at a church who is intent on seeing people fulfill their God-given purpose? Truett Cathy, owner and founder of Chic-fil-a is both the owner of a multi-billion dollar business as well as a faithful leader in his church. He may not appear as somebody we see as a typical servant. I’m sure there were days when he swept floors or took out the trash, but it is his heart that makes him a servant. Truett Cathy is not dedicated to making good chicken sandwiches, he is dedicated to building people. It is his tireless efforts that make this extremely successful man also a great servant.

As you think about your motivation to be a leader ask yourself the following questions:
• Do I want to lead in order to gain recognition or because I want to see others fulfill their God-given purpose?
• When I don’t get the recognition that I desire from serving how do I feel? What thoughts go through my head? How do I react?

Becoming a great leader (person of influence) is not about the act of serving…it’s about having the heart of a servant.