As For Me

Serving from the Core: How Kingdom Leadership Differs from Worldly Leadership

Have you ever encountered something that looked good on the outside but was completely rotten on the inside? Just like fruit that appears fine until you cut it open, our lives can sometimes present a polished exterior while hiding a corrupted core.

What truly matters isn't what's visible on the surface, but what overflows from within when life "cuts us open." The question becomes: if someone were to see your true core, what would they find?

What Does It Mean to Live from the Core?
The core is "the part of something that is central to its existence or character." While all Christians should display the fruits of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control), there are also core values that should define who we are as believers.

At the heart of these values is servanthood. Jesus himself said, "I must be about my Father's business," showing us that our purpose is tied to serving God's purposes. This servanthood should be at the core of who we are as Christ-followers.

How Does Kingdom Leadership Differ from Worldly Leadership?
In Mark 10:35-45, we find James and John asking Jesus for positions of honor in His kingdom. When the other disciples became indignant at this request, Jesus called them together and explained a fundamental difference between worldly and kingdom leadership:

"You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else."

Jesus concludes with this powerful statement: "For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Three Ways Kingdom Leadership Differs from Worldly Leadership
1. Access to Authority Is Different in God's Kingdom

In the world, authority comes when you impress someone, earn a degree, or "arrive" at a certain position. The world teaches us to be aggressive, to operate with a "dog-eat-dog" mentality where you climb up by pushing others down.

But in God's kingdom, you access authority by lifting others up. The world says you access authority when you serve yourself; the kingdom says you access authority when you serve others.

2. Kingdom Leaders Access Authority Through Servanthood

Kingdom leaders aren't always the most gifted, talented, rich, educated, or qualified. They're simply people who:

See a hole and fill it

Identify a need and meet it

See a problem and find a solution

The need that you see is often the call God has placed on your life. When you see a need and feel it, you've answered the call. Instead of expecting others to solve problems, kingdom leaders step up and say, "I'll solve it."

3. Kingdom Authority Comes Through Serving Everyone

Jesus said we must be "a slave to everyone." Not just those who can do something for us, but everyone—including those who can never repay us. True kingdom service has no strings attached.

Romans 12:6-8 reminds us that God has given each of us different gifts for serving well. Whether your gift is prophesying, serving, teaching, encouraging, giving, leading, or showing kindness—whatever you do, do it well and in a way that serves others.

What Does Your Service Say About Your Relationship with God?
Joshua 24:14-15 challenges us to "fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly." The way we serve speaks volumes to our spouses, children, and community about our relationship with Jesus.

Joshua declared, "As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." This wasn't a half-hearted commitment but a wholehearted dedication to serving God differently than the culture around him.

Life Application
The way you serve tells a story to those around you. If we cut you open today, what would be at your core? Would it be rotten, or would it overflow with the fruits of the Spirit and a heart of service?

Here are some questions to consider this week:

What does the way I serve say about my relationship with Jesus?
Am I accessing authority God's way (through serving) or the world's way (through self-promotion)?
What needs do I see around me that might be God's call on my life?
Am I serving everyone or just those who can do something for me?
How can I serve "differently" than the world this week?

Make a commitment today to serve wholeheartedly and differently. Don't rot on the vine—discover how God designed you to serve and step into the fullness of what He has for you. As you serve others, you'll unlock access to the authority of God's kingdom in your life.