For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

Galatians 5:13 

Paul calls the Galatians to live a life that expresses selfless generosity that stands in contrast to a self-centered world. The freedom which we have received from Christ is not a license for selfish ambition, but rather an opportunity to glorify God and serve others in love (Galatians 5:13). 

We can look to Jesus as the perfect example of someone who stepped into His purpose through selfless service. In His humanity, He knew the cost of selfless service as He said, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me”. Yet we find Jesus doing the greatest act of selfless service as He also said, “Not my will, but your will be done”. He died so that we can step into purpose. He died so that we can help others do the same (Matthew 26:39).

 We are loved by the Lord to love for the Lord.

What Makes a Loving Leader? We are called by Christ to love with a love not of this world. It is a love that can only be explained by an encounter with Almighty God. His transforming power positions His disciple to love on His behalf. The parting words of our Savior presented a new, radical love language for His disciples: “As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (John 13:34). Jesus’s command is the best motivation for leaders to love well! So, show God’s love by helping others, and spread God’s love by speaking to others in the name of Jesus.

Additionally, a loving leader learns patience. Patience has a calming effect on everyone under its influence. Impatience does just the opposite. A person huffs and puffs until everyone knows he’s unhappy, for not getting his way. Thankfully, love lengthens the fuse of patience. Love builds capacity to care about what another person might be experiencing. Love looks behind the angry face to see the hurting heart, and then shows mercy to the person who may be crying out for help.

Throughout the Bible, we see God’s call for humanity to serve one another, leaving aside all pride or position, to seek to edify, build, and sustain the lives of those around us. During His time on earth, Jesus Christ did this when He went forward to the cross to complete the Father’s work, notwithstanding the end that awaited Him.

The church is the body of Christ, called to bear one another’s burdens. The message is clear: Our gifts are to help others, not to exalt ourselves. When we serve others, we must be humble and see them as more important than ourselves. Our unique passions and abilities are vehicles of tremendous power when we put them at God’s disposal. We can see His love multiply and become a pathway that may lead others to Jesus. God has given us the awesome responsibility of choosing how to use our gifts.

As you pray, ask the Lord to reveal to you the context in which you can serve others in love. You may find yourself in situations where you are serving people in church or at work. Whatever you do, do it all as unto the Lord for the love and freedom He has already given to you. 

“The first job of leadership is to love people. Leadership without love is manipulation.”

—Rick Warren