What readily comes to mind when you
think about “a good leader”? For many of us it is someone who is confident and
strong, wise and knowledgeable. Someone you would gladly fight behind.
As a small business owner and a leader in
the women fellowship, it takes more out of me than I can put in.
the women fellowship, it takes more out of me than I can put in.
Honestly, I wish I could be there for
the ladies in our group more often, although I do my best to pray for them each
and every day. There is in the end, only so much of me to go around.
the ladies in our group more often, although I do my best to pray for them each
and every day. There is in the end, only so much of me to go around.
Those are times when my little is more than enough
I desire to be a good leader, to be a
good example of Jesus Christ for them so that we both can grow in the grace and
knowledge of Jesus Christ.
good example of Jesus Christ for them so that we both can grow in the grace and
knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Well, it’s not about me, it’s
about them.
about them.
There
is no greater example of a good
is no greater example of a good
leader than the one Jesus has left for us.
Bible Reading: John 13 (click to read online)
In this chapter we find Jesus gathered
with His disciples, the persecution and the cross are looming over His head and
He gets up from supper, takes off His garments and begins to wash the disciples
feet.
with His disciples, the persecution and the cross are looming over His head and
He gets up from supper, takes off His garments and begins to wash the disciples
feet.
Are you a woman leading a small women’s
group?
group?
Do you intend to lead a women
fellowship someday?
fellowship someday?
This is for you.
In this scripture, you will notice five
distinct characteristics of a good leader.
distinct characteristics of a good leader.
1. Love.
A good leader is willing to put aside self, and all that is involved in self
for the sake of those they love. Jesus was on His way to lay down His life for
the disciples and for every single other person on the face of the earth.
A good leader is willing to put aside self, and all that is involved in self
for the sake of those they love. Jesus was on His way to lay down His life for
the disciples and for every single other person on the face of the earth.
Now, before the Feast of the
Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to
the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the
end. John 13:1
Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to
the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the
end. John 13:1
He was willing to put aside His entire
life for them and for us. A good leader will set aside every single thing on
their calendar to help the ones they love.
life for them and for us. A good leader will set aside every single thing on
their calendar to help the ones they love.
During supper, when the devil
had already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him,
Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He
had come from the God and was going back to God, John 13:2-3
had already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him,
Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He
had come from the God and was going back to God, John 13:2-3
2. Confident in the call
of God over their lives. Peter reminds us in
2 Peter 1:10 that we need to be diligent to make our calling and election sure.
of God over their lives. Peter reminds us in
2 Peter 1:10 that we need to be diligent to make our calling and election sure.
A good leader knows that God has called
them to the ministry, and knows that God has given them the gifts that are
needed to fulfill the ministry. There is no room for doubt in the mind of a
good leader.
them to the ministry, and knows that God has given them the gifts that are
needed to fulfill the ministry. There is no room for doubt in the mind of a
good leader.
Good leaders are confident, not in their ability, but in the
ability of God to use the gifts and talents He has given them.
ability of God to use the gifts and talents He has given them.
Jesus never questioned whether or not
He was the Son of God. From day one He knew His calling and He walked
confidently in it.
He was the Son of God. From day one He knew His calling and He walked
confidently in it.
rose from supper. He laid
aside His outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around His waist. Then He
poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples feet and to wipe them
with the towel that was wrapped around Him. John 13:4-5
aside His outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around His waist. Then He
poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples feet and to wipe them
with the towel that was wrapped around Him. John 13:4-5
3. Willingness to serve,
instead of being served. Jesus rose from supper. Jesus chose to put aside His
meal and serve those who were seated with Him. Love is not what we say, it is
what we do.
instead of being served. Jesus rose from supper. Jesus chose to put aside His
meal and serve those who were seated with Him. Love is not what we say, it is
what we do.
If you want to lead and teach women, then you have to
be willing to love and serve those same women, no matter how dirty their feet
are, or where they are seated in life.
be willing to love and serve those same women, no matter how dirty their feet
are, or where they are seated in life.
Jesus laid aside His garments, He took
off that which was hindering His ability to serve the disciples and knelt down
before them, as individuals. He laid aside His garments to make Himself ready
to serve the men seated around the table.
off that which was hindering His ability to serve the disciples and knelt down
before them, as individuals. He laid aside His garments to make Himself ready
to serve the men seated around the table.
As leaders we must be in readiness to
help those whom God has given us. That woman in your life that you are
drawn to, needs your Godly example.
help those whom God has given us. That woman in your life that you are
drawn to, needs your Godly example.
She needs to know that someone is there
for her, kneeling at her dirty feet and willing to wash her clean. Jesus Christ
chose to put aside His supper, His hunger, to serve the disciples at their
dirtiest and He made Himself ready for their sake, not His own.
for her, kneeling at her dirty feet and willing to wash her clean. Jesus Christ
chose to put aside His supper, His hunger, to serve the disciples at their
dirtiest and He made Himself ready for their sake, not His own.
4. Understand Timing:
One of the hardest lessons I have had to learn, and am still learning, in
regards to leadership is knowing the right time to sit or when to stand,
knowing when to speak and when to be silent.
One of the hardest lessons I have had to learn, and am still learning, in
regards to leadership is knowing the right time to sit or when to stand,
knowing when to speak and when to be silent.
A good leader knows when to serve.
Do you notice Jesus got up in the
middle of supper, not a time when most people would have their feet washed.
middle of supper, not a time when most people would have their feet washed.
But He saw their need and made Himself
available to them. He put aside His own desires for the sake of those whom
He loved. A good leader will do the same.
available to them. He put aside His own desires for the sake of those whom
He loved. A good leader will do the same.
Read the conversation that ensued
afterwards here in John 13:12-17
afterwards here in John 13:12-17
Jesus asked the disciples if they
understood why He washed their feet. He wanted to know if they understood what
it meant to be a good example, to be a good leader, to be a good teacher. The
disciples were going to become Apostles and lead multitudes into the saving
knowledge of Jesus Christ.
understood why He washed their feet. He wanted to know if they understood what
it meant to be a good example, to be a good leader, to be a good teacher. The
disciples were going to become Apostles and lead multitudes into the saving
knowledge of Jesus Christ.
He needed them, and He needs us to
understand that to be a good leader, you have to first learn to be a servant.
understand that to be a good leader, you have to first learn to be a servant.
5. Willingness to be Taught.
Jesus knelt down and got to know the disciples on a personal level. Jesus lived
with these men, He ate with them, traveled with them, spent time with them.
Jesus knelt down and got to know the disciples on a personal level. Jesus lived
with these men, He ate with them, traveled with them, spent time with them.
A good leader will seek to spend time
with those who are with them, and seek to know them not just as someone who
attends their weekly study, but as a person, as an individual with needs. Jesus
washed their feet. He held their dirty feet in His hands and wiped them clean.
with those who are with them, and seek to know them not just as someone who
attends their weekly study, but as a person, as an individual with needs. Jesus
washed their feet. He held their dirty feet in His hands and wiped them clean.
A good leader will kneel down alongside the women they are
leading and hold their dirty feet in their hands.
leading and hold their dirty feet in their hands.
They will get to know them, listen to
them and become a part of their lives.
them and become a part of their lives.
To be a good leader, you have to know those you are leading.
We are not greater than those we serve
and we are no better than those we lead. We are not in a spiritual game to see
who wins or who has the most followers.
and we are no better than those we lead. We are not in a spiritual game to see
who wins or who has the most followers.
We are in a body, working alongside one
another, washing each other’s feet.
another, washing each other’s feet.
If you want to be a good leader or
teacher, learn to be led and taught first. Follow Jesus’ example and kneel
before you try to stand. Amen?
teacher, learn to be led and taught first. Follow Jesus’ example and kneel
before you try to stand. Amen?
Further Reading:
How
to Work Well With Small Women Groups
About the Author
Stephane Singletary gently leads “The Upper Room” Women’s Ministry where writes and teaches women to love Christ.
She is also the author of “Winning Him Without A Word: Learning to Live and Love an Unbelieving Husband“.
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