Finally, In Jesus we see that the heart of a servant leader will have no choice but to continue to grow more and more dependent on the many resources that only God can provide to keep offering their sacrificial service to others.
It must be noted that servant leadership in a selfish world is an anomaly. It goes against human nature. It is not the norm. True servant leadership will consistently bring the leader's heart to the end of itself and its own abilities. At such times the servant leader will face the same choice over and over again. The servant leader can choose to let their heart grow hard and cynical or allow it grow deeper in dependence on the renewing resources that only God can provide. The more a servant leader chooses to surrender their heart to the resources and power of God, the more effective they will be in their redemptive work as a leader.
In the end, Jesus surrendered His whole heart and life to dependence on and obedience to God. Doing so literally led Him to the cross. In doing so, Jesus completed the redemptive work for which He came into the world.
If you and I choose to grow in servant leadership in our lives it will ultimately mean the same for us. Though we will likely not literally end up on a physical cross as Jesus did, the selfish part of our hearts will have to consistently experience its crucifixion in us. As our selfishness is put to death on the cross and the resurrected life of Christ takes more and more centerstage in our hearts, we will begin to supernaturally flourish in our servant leadership. Matthew 16:24
Such is the supernatural joy in the heart of the true Christ-like servant leader.
Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2
