The Power of Servanthood... by Tom Faber

The Power of Servanthood
“Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant.”
Matthew 20:26 (NLT)

We live in a world that chases platforms, not basins. Everyone wants a microphone, a following, a place at the table. But Jesus never told us to strive for visibility. He told us to pick up a towel.

The night before He was crucified, the Son of God wrapped Himself in a servant’s cloth and knelt to wash dirty feet. Feet that had walked through mud, waste, and the grime of the world. He washed even the feet of the one who would betray Him.

That’s not just a lesson in humility. That is the very heart of the Gospel.

To be great in the kingdom of God, you do not climb. You stoop. You don’t demand your place. You lay it down. You don’t grasp for power. You give it away.

Servanthood is not weakness. It is strength under control. It is the quiet force of love that bends low so others can rise. It is unseen work, often unthanked, often misunderstood, but it is sacred.

If no one notices your efforts, if your serving feels invisible, if your hands are weary from holding up the arms of others, know this: God sees every act. He honors what others ignore. The kingdom is not built on celebrities. It is built on servants.

Jesus said it plainly. The path to greatness is found in the basin, not the stage. And when we serve, we don’t just reflect Him. We walk in step with Him.

So serve with gladness. Love when it costs. Give when it’s inconvenient. Wash the feet no one else wants to touch. Because in the end, the greatest in the room is not the one being applauded. It is the one still holding the towel.

Scripture to Hold Onto:
“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 become your slave. 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.”
Matthew 20:26–28 (NLT)