As we celebrate the birth of Jesus this Christmas, we will focus on a couple of servant leaders, Zechariah and Elizabeth, the parents of John the Baptist. John would be called by Jesus as the greatest man ever born (Matthew 11:11). In what way did John’s parents, Zechariah and Elizabeth, influence him as servant leaders?

They served faithfully. Not many words are written about this couple, but enough to give us insight into their lives of faithful service. “Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly” (Luke 1:6).Both were blameless in their walk with God. They served without the visible blessing of children so we can assume that their service was not dependent on positive outcomes. Yet, they continued serving faithfully. Their lives influenced John to be able to serve faithfully as he called many to repentance by the Jordan River. He boldly proclaimed truth even when it cost him his life. Servant leaders aren’t perfect, but their hearts’ desire is to serve the Lord as Zechariah and Elizabeth did, faithfully living out the call of Christ in their everyday life.

They served humbly. This ordinary couple served with deep humility. Their humility is evident in Elizabeth’s response to Mary’s visit in Luke 1:39-56. For three months they hosted this visitor in their home, humbly serving her many meals and giving Mary their time and resources. They both knew that Mary’s child would be greater than their own, but they were able to humbly accept God’s role for their son. Their humility foreshadowed John’s humble declaration that Jesus should become greater and he should become less (John 3:30). Servant leaders serve with humility as this couple did, not drawing attention to themselves, but allowing others to rise.

They served patiently. When we first hear of this couple, they were “both very old” (Luke 1:7) and were childless. They had prayed for years without seeing the results. But they continued serving patiently in a situation in which many would have been tempted to give up. As they waited, they continued serving. They demonstrated to John how to serve patiently as he waited on God’s timing in the wilderness and in prison where he finally lost his life. Servant leaders learn from Zechariah and Elizabeth to keep serving in whatever role they have no matter the results. They serve faithfully and trust God for the results.

They served joyfully. Praise and rejoicing are very much a part of this couple’s story. Elizabeth gave thanks as soon as she was pregnant. When Zechariah’s tongue was set free, “he began to speak, praising God” (Luke 1:64). Elizabeth was not jealous of Mary’s miraculous pregnancy; instead, she rejoiced! Servant leaders learn from this couple that service is not a burden but a joy. They rejoiced as they served! And John was able to follow their example as he joyfully testified that the “bridegroom” had come (John 3:29).

Elizabeth and Zachariah served well individually. But together, their impact multiplied as they brought John into the world and raised him to be the forerunner of the Messiah. Their hearts for service left a legacy that we would do well to imitate.

This Christmas, the world needs more servant leader couples. Will you be one of them? Will you join together with your spouse, if married, and ask God to double your impact in the coming year as you serve faithfully, humbly, patiently, and joyfully?

Until next time, yours on the journey,

Jon Byler

For further reflection and discussion:

• Read the account of John’s ministry in Luke 3:1-20. In what ways do I see the influence of His parents in this story?
• Could my leadership be described as “blameless”? If not, in what ways is God inviting me to change?
• How has my leadership in the past week demonstrated humility? Am I able to rejoice in the success of others? If not, why not?
• In what areas am I tempted to give up when things don’t change quickly? What can I learn from Zachariah and Elizabeth?
• Can my leadership be described as “joyful”? If not, what can I do to imitate Zachariah and Elizabeth?      
• For couples. In what ways can our marriage multiply our influence? Are we aware of this and using it strategically to have a greater impact?
• If unmarried, what more can I learn from this couple to strengthen my own leadership impact and legacy?

Next year, we’ll begin a series on the sound of silence in our leadership! Shh…!

Until then, I wish you and your family a wonderful time of celebrating the joy of Jesus’ birth. He still inspires all of us over 2000 years later!

*We looked at the first couple in this series, Joseph and Mary, during the 2015 Christmas season. If you missed those, or want to see them again, click below.

Copyright, Global Disciples 2019.

After the general quality “above reproach” Paul quickly focuses his checklist on an area that deeply impacts all servant leaders who are called to be, “the husband of but one wife” (1Timothy 3:2) At first glance most of us who are married would go ahead and mark this requirement as complete. Those who are single easily read on to the next item on the list. Women assume this is irrelevant. But let’s dig a bit deeper. Paul is certainly calling leaders to avoid polygamy, but this quality assurance means far more than possessing a single marriage certificate. Further, his instruction does not limit leadership to those who are married or he would disqualify himself. Instead Paul is calling all leaders to honor God’s standards of marriage and purity. How can we practice this?

Leaders of purity honor covenants.

Marriage is a covenant relationship, a binding agreement between two parties accompanied by solemn vows. Many leaders seek to separate their personal relationship with their spouse from their leadership. They argue that what happens at home has no impact on their leadership. Servant leaders recognize that honoring their promises reflects strong character which begins with the marriage covenant.

It was common in Paul’s day for men to have several wives (polygamy) or successive wives (divorce and remarriage). Both violate the covenant plan of God. Paul asserts that God’s plan is for one man and one woman to remain together for life and calls leaders to honor that standard. He calls men to be a “one woman man.”

Honoring the marriage covenant goes beyond simply remaining together. Some remain married but have long ago left their spouse emotionally. Servant leaders honor other parts of that covenant such as “to love and cherish” the other. They refuse to allow careers, ministry, sports or hobbies to keep them from building a solid relationship with their spouse.

Leaders of purity honor morality.

Paul was writing in the context of a culture where immorality was accepted as normal. His call is for leaders to remain sexually pure both in thought and deed. Servant leaders carefully guard their eyes and thoughts in this area. They seek accountability from other godly leaders to help them in this area realizing that all will be tempted to compromise and many have done so.

Leaders of purity honor relationships.

Finally, Paul’s challenge is for each of us to examine the way we relate to members of the opposite sex. It is not enough to remain married to one person; it also matters how we relate to others at our place of work, in the market place, in church and in social settings. Because of their commitment to be a “one woman man” servant leaders are diligent to create boundaries that guard relationships with the opposite sex so that they avoid even the appearance of evil.

Boaz was a biblical leader who modeled what it means to be a “one woman man.” He waited patiently for God’s timing for marriage. He showed honor to Ruth when she gleaned in his field and protected her from the advances of other men with no thought of marriage at that point. Later, he followed the path of honor as he took Ruth to be his wife. Together they became the great grandparents of King David. Boaz passed the quality assurance checklist as “the husband of but one wife” and provides a model for each of us to follow. Take a moment to ask yourself if you are a ‘one woman man’ or a ‘one man woman’ by reflecting on the questions below.

For further reflection and discussion:

• Is the way I relate to my spouse a reflection of God’s intent for marriage?
• If I am not married, have I recognized the implications of God’s plan for covenant relationships and I am living in a way that honors that plan?
• Have I allowed other good things to come before my covenant relationship with my spouse? What needs to change?
• Do I have clear boundaries for the way I relate to members of the opposite sex?
• Have I recently been in any situations which could have led to compromise or the appearance of wrong doing in relationships with the opposite sex?
• Am I walking in relationship with others who can hold me accountable?
• In what ways do I need the grace and forgiveness of God in this area? If I have been strong am I tempted to be judgmental of those who are weak?

If you ask me about my leadership I will quickly start talking about the organizations I’ve led, the number of people I’ve trained or the good work I’m doing through my job. But servant leadership doesn’t start on the job, it begins at home. Paul instructed Titus that a leader should be “the husband of but one wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient” (Titus 1:6). Politicians openly assert that what happens in their private lives has no bearing on their effectiveness as leaders but Paul’s guideline makes it clear that for servant leaders what happens at home is critical. Why?

Leadership at home is preparation for public leadership.

Paul expects that before a leader exercises public influence his/her leadership at home with spouse and children should be proven. If you can’t influence those at home in a positive way, don’t try to change the rest of the world! Leadership begins at home. The Indians have a proverb, “First win the home, then win the world.”

At home, in the details of life, we learn to lead. We learn to communicate and share vision, to plan and organize, strategize and execute, equip and build teams, to negotiate and share. More than that, we develop character, the foundation of leadership, at home.

Nowhere is servant leadership more tested than at home. Servant leadership demands a surrender of personal rights and a focus on the needs of the other instead of self. This is difficult in public but nearly impossible at home without God’s help! At home, we take off our nice clothes and relax. As we do so we easily discard our good manners and people skills and begin to treat those closest to us in ways we would never do in public. It is impossible at home to hide who we really are. That’s why learning to be a servant leader at home prepares us for public leadership.

While leadership at home should be proven, this does not imply perfection, or none of us would qualify. Instead, servant leaders learn to apologize and ask forgiveness for their mistakes, first at home and then in public.

Leadership at home is validation for public leadership.

Not only does the home provide a learning environment for servant leadership, it also provides affirmation for our public leadership. Politicians may say that their private lives don’t count, but they make sure that when it is time for pictures, their family is smiling beside them. Why? They know a smiling family sends a powerful message about leadership. It says to the voters, “You can’t go wrong with this leader, look at the happy family!”

Paul recognized this as he challenged leaders 2000 years ago that their leadership at home confirms their ability to lead others. He understood that when a leaders’ family is in order, the leader gains credibility in public. Servant leaders who have learned to lead well at home don’t need to rely on fake smiles; they have genuine support from those who know them best. They stand with confidence and courage. When a sports team plays at home, they possess the ‘home field’ advantage. Servant leaders who have paid the price at home have the ‘home field’ advantage when they enter the public arena.

For further reflection and discussion:

• On a scale of 1 to 10, how would your family rate your leadership?
• Are the families under your leadership growing?
• What do you need to do at home to strengthen your leadership?
• Do you deliberately use your leadership to build families?
• In your business/church/organization, what policies have you implemented that help to strengthen families?