Humility and Leadership
The world’s concept of leadership is utterly divergent from biblical leadership. History is full of stories of corrupt leaders and despots, of kingdoms and nations led to failure by poor leaders. And at the root of such stories is selfishness and pride. Stories of truly successful leaders are stories of humble leaders who put the needs of their followers first. The life of Jesus, the one perfect Leader; Scripture’s classification of leadership as servanthood; and man’s call to glorify God in all things thoroughly yoke together concepts of leadership and humility.
The life of Jesus should be the standard for true leadership. Who better to look to for an example of righteous leadership than He who is without sin? Jesus is “King of kings, and Lord of lords.” In His own words, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matthew 28:18 ESV). And he founded the greatest empire the world has ever seen: the Kingdom of God, an empire which has lasted longer and grown larger than any other. Yet his life doesn’t look like those of other famous rulers, who cling to their position, seeking only to elevate themselves and further their power.
[Jesus], who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:6-8 ESV).
He took on the flesh of man, the most humiliating act imaginable. He lived his life in servanthood, traveling the world as a servant of God, healing and teaching. He left this life as a servant, dying for sinful, unworthy men. In Christ’s life, we see the connection between leadership and humility: He lived the humblest of lives, filled with service and sacrifice, yet He is, beyond question, the greatest of leaders.
Looking to the example of Christ, the Bible is clear that true leaders are servants at heart. In Matthew 20, the mother of James and John came to Jesus and said, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom” (Matthew 20: 21). She, and most first-century Jews, thought that the Messiah had come to conquer the oppressive Roman Empire and establish His throne in the world. But Jesus responds,
The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves” (Luke 22:25-27 ESV, italics added).
Clearly, biblical leadership is inextricably linked with service. And one cannot truly serve unless they have an attitude of humility, of thinking less of themselves and more of others; for service is the very act of putting others first. So does it not follow that biblical leadership is connected to humility?
But the need for humility goes beyond servanthood and extends to all, not just leaders. Man is called to glorify God in all things. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 10, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). And further, the very first question in the Shorter Catechism of the Westminster Confession of Faith is as follows:
Westminster Shorter Catechism Q1
Q. What is the chief end of man?
A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.
If “man’s chief end is to glorify God,” he must be humble. For if one is selfish or prideful, he seeks to glorify himself; and “No one can serve two masters” (Matthew 6:24 ESV). If anyone desires glory for himself, he indirectly desires to steal glory from God. And while this principle applies to every human, leaders must be especially wary. Those who have been granted authority over others have the unique opportunity to reflect Christ’s leadership. But conversely, they are subject to unique temptation.
Throughout history, kings, pharaohs, and emperors have sought deification; they have demanded to be worshiped. They exalt themselves, rather than exalting God, stealing glory from the One who deserves it. Leaders should instead seek to emulate King David, who lived his life elevating the Name of God, which is evidenced in His Psalms. He writes in Psalm 145,
I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever. Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever. Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom” (Psalm 145:1-3, italics added).
Clearly, there is a connection between humility and glorifying God, which is part of following Christ. And, equally clearly, leaders require special humility to glorify God.
The success of any body hinges on the recovery of biblical leadership. Leaders must acknowledge their Creator and seek to glorify Him in all things; they must decrease so that the Lord can increase. They must look to Scriptures, to the humble life Christ led and to His radical redefining of leadership recorded in the Gospels and to the epistolary teaching regarding leadership written by inspired authors.