Serving Everyone

We all love to be revered and remembered by our friends and relatives. So, we crack jokes, share knowledge, and boast about our abilities and performances to impress them and gain their praise. We share our past performances during a job interview to impress our interviewer. But friendships grow cold when we try to impress our friends. Our genuine love and care for others keep them warm and comforted.

“We know that ‘We all possess knowledge.’ But knowledge puffs up while love builds up.”  1 Corinthians 8:1 NIV

Learning the secret of serving and winning everyone for Christ requires humility and pure motives. But how do we examine our motives when we are, for example, chatting with our friends? If we pay attention, do we rush to share something about ourselves to impress listeners, or do we use words of affirmation for what we hear from others?! In other words, do we promote ourselves with how much we know, or do we listen carefully and credit those sharing something good? People don't care much about our knowledge, but what remains in their minds is our kind and loving actions. An old phrase says, "People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care."

Apostle Paul's transformation is a powerful testament. His journey from hating Christians to caring deeply for people, even putting aside his own preferences, exemplifies a bold Christian character:

"I have become all things to all, that I might, by all means, save some."  1 Corinthians 9:22

"Becoming everything to everyone" doesn't mean changing our beliefs to please others. Instead, it involves finding common ground to connect with and understand people. We can establish this common ground even with those who have difficulty communicating with each other and can develop friendships with them. For example, Paul captured the attention of the people of Athens by referencing an altar labeled "To the Unknown God." He used this as a starting point to share his experience with the true God. We can find common ground with almost anyone: friends, enemies, our children, spouses, coworkers, supervisors, and those we supervise. For instance, with our children, we can connect through their interests and hobbies; with our spouses, we can bond over shared values and goals; and with coworkers, we can relate through professional aspirations and challenges.

Finding common ground requires listening skills to understand others and what they value in their lives. Good leaders seek feedback from their peers and other leaders. If the input makes sense, they make adjustments in their lives. For example, we might ask our spouses or close friends how we behaved at a party the night before. Then, we should consider their feedback thoughtfully, without bias. All leaders need honest input from those around them to grow and mature. While we can't always expect positive and pleasant reviews, we should always appreciate constructive criticism. When we act humble and strive to do what is right, we become servant leaders and pave our way to success.

While it's commendable to think about caring for and helping others, love necessitates sacrifice. Love requires some time, energy, money, or comfort. John 3:16 illustrates God's love through a significant sacrifice.

We may sometimes make sacrifices for our own benefit unintentionally, but the truth will become clear with some honest reflection. Setting aside our personal preferences takes effort. However, it's essential to remember that we can choose what to eat and how to dress. For instance, whether we wear ironed or wrinkled shirts at home or church may not be crucial. However, it does matter how we present ourselves when we take on the responsibility of leading a group. Dressing modestly and appropriately can uplift the spirits of those around us. Attention to these seemingly minor details empowers us to "Become everything to everyone."

Only some who claim to be great leaders are truly genuine. For example, a successful military commander may not be a great leader. Similarly, someone with extensive knowledge of the Bible may or may not be an effective leader. True Christian leaders serve with sacrificial love and set themselves as examples for others to willingly follow.

Please click on “Leadership Qualities” to continue.