When I was growing up it was something of a negative trait to always be doing good things, trying to help others. Often a person like that was labeled with the term “goodie-two-shoes.” It didn’t matter that the term didn’t have a clear meaning. Its reference was obvious. No one wanted to carry that label around in life.

Yet today, one of the best qualities a person can have is that of a “servant leader.” Serving others. Helping others. Encouraging others. It is a pattern set by Jesus. In fact, in Acts, we are told just that:

Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

Acts 10:38 NLT

The writers at Lead Like Jesus asked a series of probing questions recently on this topic:

  • How long have you been on the servant leadership journey?
  • What Christ-like growth in your leadership point-of-view are you seeing?
  • What new habits are you building into your life to sustain you?
  • Whom are you serving in order to influence their thinking, behavior, and development as godly servant leaders?
  • What steps are you taking to reorient your life around living, loving, and leading like Jesus?

It is this servant-leader activity in our lives that the Lord will reward in eternity.

For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father and will judge all people according to their deeds.

Matthew 16:27 NLT

Can I share a secret I’ve learned through the years? It’s not easy helping others. Many times, you serve others and receive no thanks in return. Sometimes your help causes criticism from others, even the person you are trying to support. And often you just get tired. One person recognized this and wrote about the challenge of trying to follow the Lord’s leadership in this area:

“Those who genuinely ‘do good’ will be tempted soon enough to grow weary. Give yourself to doing good for others—on God’s terms, to fulfill his calling—and it’s just a matter of time before you will be tempted to tire.”

David Mathis, Executive Editor, desiringGod.org

The Apostle Paul understood this. To paraphrase his comments to the Galatians, Paul said “keep on keeping on!”

So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.

Galatians 6:9 NLT

And to the believers in Thessalonica, he had a similar message:

…dear brothers and sisters, never get tired of doing good.

2 Thessalonians 3:13 NLT

The article from Lead Like Jesus concluded with this great encouragement:

A lifetime of leading like Jesus will reap rewards for you and for those you impact, now and for eternity. Keep going!

Whom are you leading today? Whom are you influencing, helping, serving? Don’t grow weary. There is an ultimate reward. And along the way, you will have set a great pattern for others to follow.

God’s best,