Issue #32, May 26, 2010
Servant leaders recognize and practice ‘branch leadership.’ Jesus described this type of leadership in His last leadership training session when He said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5) What does branch leadership look like for servant leaders?
Servant leaders recognize their dependence on Jesus.
Jesus made it very clear that there was a difference between Him and His followers. He was the ‘vine’ they were ‘branches.’ The branch is totally dependent on the vine for life and nourishment. Jesus radically claims, “Apart from me you can do nothing.” Leaders love to make things happen and naturally want to be in control of their world. But servant leaders acknowledge that they are not in control; they are totally dependent on Jesus. He is the source of their power; He is the giver of the gifts they possess. The ability to influence people or to make money does not come from within us; it comes from a connection to the vine. We might be able to point to things we think we have accomplished but Jesus says that without Him it is ‘nothing.’ Churches built without Him are nothing. Business success without Him is nothing. Many years earlier, God cautioned His people, “But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today.” (Deut. 8:18) Servant leaders are free from the tyranny of needing to be in control. Do you acknowledge that without Jesus, your leadership is nothing?
Servant leaders understand their potential in Jesus.
“If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit.” All leaders have a passion to succeed and find ways to measure that success. They want fruit! For some it is profit, for others it is the size of their church or organization. For others success is defined by what others think about them. Jesus is not opposed to fruit, in fact He wants ‘much fruit.’ But He calls servant leaders to recognize that fruitfulness comes when they are connected to Him, not as a result of their own efforts. This fruit may not always look like we anticipate, but when leaders stay connected to Jesus, their potential greatly increases. He wants much fruit from your leadership! Do you recognize the tremendous potential you have in Jesus?
Servant leaders pursue intimacy with Jesus.
When leaders understand their dependence on Jesus and the potential they have as they stay connected to Him, they will naturally take the action step of pursuing intimacy with Jesus. They will passionately seek to learn more about what it means to ‘remain’ or ‘abide’ in Jesus. They want to stay connected to the ‘vine.’ They find time to nurture their personal relationship with Jesus through prayer and reflection. They learn to ask Jesus for His direction before moving forward with plans. They cry out to Him for true fruit from their leadership. They move intimacy with Jesus to the top of their ‘to do’ list. Are you pursuing intimacy with Jesus?
Don’t measure your leadership success by the external standards of numbers and statistics but by your intimacy with Jesus. As you practice ‘branch leadership’ your life will produce much fruit for the glory of God.
For further reflection and discussion:
- In what specific ways has my leadership in the past week reflected my dependence on Jesus?
- In what areas am I tempted to move forward on my own strength?
- How do I currently measure my leadership success? How should I measure it?
- What ‘fruit’ does God want to produce more of through my leadership?
- What daily actions can I take to pursue intimacy with Jesus?