Power Under (Daily Encouragement Series)
“And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant” Mark 10:42-43
As we said Sunday, leadership is influence which means we all lead in some respect and to some degree. As we looked at various characteristics of a healthy leader, one important aspect is that leadership is it is about others – humility towards others, building others up, etc. We often see this get flipped around in “entitled” leadership which makes the world revolve around them. I have seen this starting to play out more and more during this pandemic as people can’t get what “they want” all the time. “The Emotionally Healthy Leader” put it this way:
Entitled leaders act as if the world revolves around them. Their thinking goes something like this: I’ve been blessed. I have gifts and influence. I have worked hard and deserve to be treated well. This is what I refer to as “power over” others leadership.
The opposite of an entitled leader is a grateful leader. Grateful leaders continually marvel at all the have received from God. But as a leader’s sense of gratitude shrinks, their sense of entitlement grow in equal measure.
While the world practices a “power over” strategy characterized by dominance and win-lose competitiveness, Jesus taught a “power under” strategy characterized by humility and sacrificial service. In the world, Jesus says, leaders throw their weight around, “[but it is] not so with you…whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.” (Mark 10:42-43).
As you influence others – at work, at home, in your relationships – what does it look like to have a “power under” strategy as opposed to a “power over” strategy?