The Master Servant

      The Master Server is something that at times has been lost in some businesses.  The Master Servant is one who finds a need in the world and then works to find a solution to that need. When we offer the solution to something in people’s lives we become the servant that meets their needs. “A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. He does not set out to be a leader, but becomes one by the equality of his actions and the integrity of his intent”. (Douglas MacArthur)

The business owner or leadership should always be looking for ways they can serve.  The role of a Pastor is all about serving other in areas of people’s lives.  The motivational leader will help others by motivating them to do the things in life they need to.  People sometimes need that extra push, belief, vision, and positive atmosphere in their lives.  The leader can be instrumental in helping them move in the right direction.  The servant leader will have the ability to impact them because of the relationship built by serving.

Let’s look at the example of hospitals in our world.  They started mostly in people going to homes trying to help those who were suffering and hurting. As education has grown we moved from the small office, traveling doctor, toward that of larger hospitals. There doctors and staff are able to treat people. Over the many years we see the pureness of the purpose statement they have undertook and the dream that has grown year after year.

The medical field has grown to one of the most important fields in business. Health care makes up a very large segment of business in America.  These include small business which are growing every day. These types of business models we see in health care are example of the Master Servant models.  We can take a long look at their systems to see how we can adapt some of their servant attitudes.  The programs they offer to their clients assist them at some of their deepest and darkest times of life.

If we as leaders adopt the role of Master servant to all around us we will see great results.  Leadership is about influence and we will not truly give influence without showing how much we care. We know how much influence we have by those we have following us on the journey.  Those who are by themselves are just taking a walk, they have very little influence.

Positional influence is what most will try to implement.  The ability to influence people because of position has some impact on others.  The impacts are very limited however and will not move people to act as effectively.  The most effective way to influence others is by the master servant who will use serving and positional influence to move people in the right direction.  They will often help these people accomplish their goals in life. The power of helping others accomplish their goals and dreams can be one of the most powerful things in a serving relationship.  People will follow someone who helps them reach their dreams and goals.

The master servant can look very different depending on the field or position one has.  The ability to be a master servant will still be a key to reach true influence.  People who lead others but find they have very little support or people following along the journey need to look at this principle closely. We all can grow in the area of the master servant.  The choice is ours and it takes a lot of care to see the results most want.   I challenge all of us to become the greatest master servants we can be.  Let us change the world by serving them.

Faith is an interesting thing for most of us. Some just take life on with faith that all will work out for them. They believe that faith and right actions will carry them through life to the end into eternity.  Some will see life differently because of experiences we have had.  The boy who sat in the chair that broke checked his chair for a month before sitting down. Then a funny thing happened, after three months he never checked it again, his faith had returned.

Faith is like a muscle it needs to be exercised and used often to grow and build up strength.  We all have a measure of faith in our lives just waiting to be exercised so as we go about our day we should be challenging ourselves with faith actions. Hebrews 11:6 tells us, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

It takes a step of faith to go after a new career, education, spouse, friendship, or whatever else the case may be.  We use faith in our everyday lives all the time. Those who say they have no faith are mistaken about what faith is.  They have faith in something they just may not realize it yet.

Faith is also contagious, often bringing people together to accomplish great things.  At Christmas time we see all the Hallmark movies of faith, love, and miracles that happen when people put action and faith together.  These movies are very inspirational they end with great endings that show how important faith is in our lives.  The romantic ones will show true love is possible but it does require faith.  One common thread we see in all of these movies is faith and actions.  The right actions mixed with faith will bring results.

Faith is the foundation key to the life of each individual.  Business owners, employees, or even those disabled depend on others to provide income.  The business owner depends on the employee to do a good job helping them to create an income.  They are exercising faith that if the employees do their jobs then they will make money.  They have a system in place that they believe will guide their employees.

Likewise the employees depend on the business owner to pay them for doing a good job.  The employee is trading time, and effort for money.  The disabled person in the USA is depending on people who work to pay taxes and our government to help provide them with an income from those taxes.  They have faith that the checks will continue due to people creating money and the government sharing it with them according to our laws.

These are all examples of faith in action even if these people do not understand it.  These things happen constantly during the day and night making our world go around.  Faith in fact is a key part of the world around us.

The leader must have faith in the direction he or she is going in.  How can people follow someone who has no direction.  People with no direction will not accomplish great things.  Life is not about letting life happen to us but about us happening to life.  When we put faith and actions together miraculous things will happen. There is one thing to remember these actions must be the right ones.

We all have a purpose in life.  We must attach faith to that purpose to fully see the results in our lives.  There are many people who knew their purpose but faith in themselves or the purpose was weak.  Instead of building the muscles of faith they allowed them to grow weaker.  These people we see doing things that are not their lives purpose.  They have settled for something routine and they have now stopped dreaming.  Too many people in the world today are in this situation.  They have stopped dreaming, but the purpose for their lives is still within their reach.

The truth is it is never too late to start again.  Our faith in that purpose may be weak but we can exercise that faith building the muscles.  We do not fail unless we quite, so never quite, never give up!  Just keep building faith and moving toward the purpose of your life.