Why servant leadership, surrender, and character still matter in the kingdom of God

“If You’re not in it, I don’t want it.”

That line from a worship song has really stayed with me since I first heard it, because in a world obsessed (and here in the UK battling very publicly in the world of politics as I write) with platforms, profile, influence, and visibility, it captures something deeply important for every Christian leader:

That not every opportunity is from God.

Not every open door should be walked through.
Not every promotion is healthy.
Not every stage is the end of the assignment.
Not every increase is necessarily a blessing.

So sometimes the most spiritual thing you can pray is: “Lord, if You’re not in it, I don’t want it.”

God Is Not Against Greatness

Some Christians almost apologise for wanting to grow, lead, build, influence, or make a difference, but Jesus never rebuked the desire for greatness, rather, He redefined it.

“Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.” Matthew 20:26

He didn’t say, “Don’t be great” but that the way greatness works where He is King is through leadership is not about status but serving, it’s not about self-promotion but stewardship. Leadership became something of a dirty word because of its abuse but all through scripture there’s no escaping the truth through countless examples that God raises leaders because He wants people to be served and strengthened, rescued and healed, equipped and living powerfully for Jesus.

Just think how often God promotes people for purpose:

Joseph was prepared – to preserve nations.
David was the last chosen by men – but raised up by God to shepherd Israel.
Esther came to royal position “for such a time as this.”
The disciples, ordinary fishermen with no promising future and women with a past ended up changing the world.

God still raises up and promotes leaders today. But He does it differently than the world does.

Promotion in the Kingdom Is Different

Psalm 75 warns that self promotion is useless in the end: “It is God who judges: He brings one down, he exalts another.”

That’s one of the reasons I came off social media this year – it wasn’t doing my soul any good and I realised I’m a citizen of a kingdom where you do not have to manipulate your way upward. You do not have to obsess over recognition or force doors open. I want all the Lord has ready for me and that I am ready for, but Lord, If You’re not in it, I don’t want it! Promotion by the Lord does not come from the east or the west. The kingdom is not built on self-exaltation.

The Most Important Person In Any Room

I was recently stunned to find myself somehow in a small room for lunch with leaders from some of the most well-known ministries in the world. As I walked in awkwardly I genuinely wondered, Where should I sit? Then Jesus’ words came to mind about not scrambling for the best seats at the table. As it turned out, there was already a place with my name on it but there was nobody slated to be opposite me.

For a while nobody really spoke to me beyond a polite smile and nod. Honestly, I started to feel totally out of place. Then I remembered that I’d not really been invited there by a famous leader, but by my best friend – the King of kings Himself.

As I greeted him and became more aware of His presence, everything shifted. Instead of striving to impress people, I simply enjoyed talking with the Lord and strangely, that settledness inside led naturally into some wonderful conversations later in the meal with people I had previously been slightly in awe of who were also simply my brothers and sisters.

The world says:
“Push and shove yourself forward.”

Jesus says:
“Bow and bend to serve.”

The world is impressed by charisma, God is looking for surrender – because before He raises a leader publicly, He wants to develop them privately.

Before God Enlarges Your Influence, He Deepens Your Character

Leadership that really impacts is seen whenever God prepares people before He promotes them.

David was anointed king long before he wore a crown.
Joseph served faithfully in obscurity having had his glorious robes torn from him before leading in Pharaoh’s robe.
Moses spent years losing his pride in the wilderness before he was used to humble Egypt.

Too often church is focused on recognition, ordination or promotion. God wants formation.

Paul warned about promoting leaders too quickly, “…or they may become conceited.” 1 Timothy 3:6 I have seen this in my own life and in some I have raised up until they became puffed up.

Great things must develop slowly:

• humility
• faithfulness
• patience
• integrity
• endurance

Anyone may have been given enormous talent, but if pride is inflated or integrity is weak, promotion can mean your downfall when you’re looking for an uplift.

That’s why hidden seasons matter. Jesus did it for 40 days and nights in the desert ( I have visited that barren wilderness by the Jordan, an afternoon was enough thank you). When forced to write his CV Paul ‘bragged’ about the time he was lowered out a window in a basket to escape those who hated him! Then he had his own hidden season. RT Kendall warned me and another guy on a ministry team in a church I served ‘it’s dangerous for a young man to succeed too soon.’ The other man had way more gifts,but soon he had lost his family and ministry and I don’t even know if he’s still walking with the Lord.

Thank God for the quiet years.
When he sees the unnoticed service.
Takes note of the ordinary obedience. When you are the one who puts the batteries in the mike and you do it right because you want people to hear the Word and you don’t care who it comes through. These are not wasted years.
They are training years.

The Leaders God Uses Most Are Servants First

Jesus changed the picture of leadership forever on the night He wrapped a towel around His waist, knelt down and washed sweaty dirty feet saying ‘Do the same…’ The people God trusts most deeply are often those willing to do the little things nobody applauds.

Faithfulness in small things matters to God.

Can you serve without recognition?
Do you stay faithful when nobody sees?
Will you carry responsibility without recognition?

Jesus said, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much” because in the kingdom, the little things are the big things.

God Looks at the Heart

1 Samuel 16 – When the prophet looked at Eliab, he really stood out – Samuel thought: “This must be the one.”

He looked so impressive, strong, tall, just like a leader should look!
But God said no, he had not chosen Eliab. he saw something on the divine MRI scan that ruled him out, maybe Eliab just knew he was ‘simply the best, better than all the rest…’

“People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Beyond profile and public image – purity of heart. God sees motives, whether the ambition is self seeking. You do not need to “look the part”, right then David was overlooked – by his own family but I am one who knows for sure that God specialises in using unlikely, even unqualified people.

Hunger for God Matters More Than Ambition for Position

Contrary to so much of the slippery slope position pushing that even goes on in denominations and cathedrals, networks and churches, one of the recurring themes in Scripture is that leaders who carry lasting authority tend to be people who genuinely want more of God Himself. Not ministry success, in it for influence or going for growth.

Just God.

As the deer pants…

When Moses offered a promotion at the expense of others, he prayed instead to see more of God’s glory: “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.”

That’s leadership maturity: “If You’re not in it, I don’t want it.”

I’m learning slowly to hunger for the presence more than any position, and intimacy with Jesus more than influence for ‘my ministry’ and weirdly I discover that when you seek His kingdom first, all these other things get added because true spiritual authority flows (or overflows) from relationship with God.

That’s why encounters matter. We have to press in for more encounters with God not just knowledge about Him. Again and again in Scripture, God meets people personally and powerfully as preparation for the next assignment:

• Moses’ WOW! at the burning bush
• Isaiah’s WOE! in the temple
• Paul’s WOAH! on the Damascus road

Righteousness Still Matters

Leaders find out eventually something that may sound deeply unfashionable, holiness still matters to God in terms of who and how He raises up one and brings another down.

In Hebrews the Father says of Jesus: “You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God… has exalted you.”

God honours integrity. That means loving holiness and hating sin. We are not sinless, but we should sin less.

Joseph fled compromise in Potiphar’s house before he ever entered the palace.
Daniel chose conviction over his diet rather than ‘going along to get along.’ And while none of us lead perfectly, there is a huge difference between weakness and struggles surrendered to God and compromise that is justified until a conscience is seared. You can still build a human following and preach God’s Word but you can’t build spiritual authority while resisting God’s ways.

Discern the Season You’re In Today

Not every season is for visibility, sometimes you are in a season for preparation or pruning.
Some are times for healing, or learning.
Some times are for waiting then it’s ‘now’ for bold action.

The sons of Issachar were praised because they understood the times and knew what Israel should do. We need that discernment today and it won’t all come from the media and knowing what’s current. Wise leaders learn how to recognise by the Spirit what God is doing in a particular moment and they know that timing matters in the kingdom – when there are doors God opens that no person can shut or doors we should never try to force open ourselves.

Final Thought

God is not looking for the ‘brightest and best’ (that was once a description of Lucifer!)

He looks for surrendered hearts, servant spirits, faithful character built over time and through trials. God gives lasting favour to people who love His presence more than their position.

So yes – pray for more, and let your light shine (while at the same time singing under your breath)

“Lord, if You’re not in it, I don’t want it.”

Because our goal is never to become known, but to make Him known.

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Keep Growing

If this article encouraged you, I’d love to help you keep growing through the Launch Podcast with Anthony Delaney along with (if you subscribe) future blogs, videos and leadership resources in your inbox. You can connect with me and LAUNCH in various ways wherever you are to join a growing community of people who want to know Jesus deeply, lead intentionally and live on mission.