Societies rise and fall based on the quality of their leaders. That is why it is so vital for Godly servant leaders to pass the mantle of leadership on to the next generation!
Last week, we examined the Five Attributes of Monumentally Effective Servant Leaders, which are:
- Generous with their treasure, time, and expertise.
- Secure in their identity.
- Selfless.
- Happy to celebrate others’ success. And they,
- See and develop the potential in others.
This last attribute, the ability to see and develop the potential in others, is what I want to dive into this week as we examine the five traits of a servant leader maker.
5 Traits of A Servant Leader Maker
One attribute of the strongest, most effective servant leaders I know is their uncanny ability to see and develop the potential in others. In short, they are leader makers. Taken individually, the attributes of leader makers are not that unusual; they are not especially rare, but in combination, this group of five traits becomes greater than the sum of their parts. When united in one servant leader, these five traits become a powerful leadership development tool.
Of all the leaders in the Bible, only a few were leader makers. One of my favorite characters who exhibited all five leader-maker traits was Barnabas.
1. Risk-Taker
Amongst the most important traits of a leader maker is the willingness to take a risk on unproven leaders. Then, with courage of conviction, they help those diamonds in the rough become the leaders God intends them to be.
This is precisely what Barnabas did when he vouched for Paul before the apostles. The apostles heard about how Paul had persecuted the church, and they didn’t trust him (Acts 9:26). But, because Barnabas stood by Paul, the disciples came to trust Paul and accepted him into their midst as a true believer.
Barnabas also took a risk with his young cousin, John Mark. Even though Mark was young and inexperienced, Barnabas invited him to join him and Paul on their first missionary journey. While that trip didn’t end well for Mark, as Mark matured, he contributed significantly to the young church.
Leader makers will take a risk by helping others learn and grow so they can fulfill their purpose in the Kingdom.
2. Natural Encourager
Barnabas earned his nickname, “son of encouragement,” because he could always find a way to encourage others. When a tiny flame of growth and progress appears, a few people are always around with a bucket of cold water to dowse the flame. However, Barnabas was the opposite. He used encouraging words to fan the flame of progress into a roaring fire.
This is why when the church fathers in Jerusalem heard about the church’s growth in Antioch, the one person they sent to encourage their further growth was Barnabas (Acts 11:23).
3. Humble
Servant leaders are humble leaders, and this trait is especially apparent when lifting others into positions of prominence.
Barnabas experienced enormous success in growing the church in Antioch. Yet, amid this success, Barnabas went to get Paul and bring him to Antioch so they could minister together for over a year. Barnabas invested in Paul’s training and development, knowing Paul was the more dynamic leader. From this point on in their ministry, Barnabas stepped into the shadows, assuming a supporting role, while Paul became the greatest missionary and theologian, delivering the Gospel to the world.
4. Patient
An essential attribute of a leader maker is patience. Young, inexperienced leaders are bound to make mistakes. Leader makers recognize that mistakes are part of the growth process and are patient as they stand beside their proteges and help them grow.
Barnabas treated Paul with patience after Paul’s Damascus Road conversion. He listened to Paul’s story gracefully, trusted him, and accepted him into the role of disciple.
Barnabas displayed even more patience with his young cousin, John Mark. Barnabas did not judge Mark harshly for his decision to abandon them in the middle of their first missionary journey. Then, some two years later, when Paul and Barnabas were planning their second missionary journey, Barnabas wanted to give John Mark a second chance (Acts 15:38). Paul refused, and of course, this caused a deep rift between Paul and Barnabas. So, knowing Paul could stand on his own, Barnabas left Paul and led a mission trip with Mark.
5. People Focus
When first introduced to Barnabas, we learn that he “…sold a field which belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostle’s feet” (Acts 4:37).
Barnabas desired to provide for the needs of the poor among the body of believers in the Christian church.
He cared more about ministering to and caring for people than accumulating money or possessions.
This is true of every leader-maker I have known. They care deeply about the welfare of others. This is not to say that many leader-makers are not wealthy in their own regard. The difference is that their focus is not on money for the sake of accumulating more. Instead, their focus is on how they can use the resources God has given them to lift others up.
Servant Leaders Are Adept Leader Makers
As Christian leaders, we are called to follow the servant-leader example of Jesus. Jesus’ twelve original disciples were a rather unusual collection of several uneducated fishermen, a tax collector, and a religious zealot. Yet Jesus saw something unique in each one, and over three years, He molded them into a force that would change the world.
Like Jesus, we need to be servant leader makers. The mantle of Godly servant leaders must be passed on to the next generation, and it is up to us to get the job done!
More Articles
I have written several articles on servant leadership. You can find them by typing “servant leadership” in the search bar. Meanwhile, here are some of my favorites.
- #456: 8 Signs of A Courageous Christian Servant Leader
- #427: Powerful, Faithful Godly Leaders Embody These Two Traits
- #414: What Is Different About A Leader in The Kingdom of God?
- #374: Is Serving What We Are Called to Do?
- #309: Do You Know This Servant-Hearted Seamstress Who Caused A Revival?
Join the Conversation
As always, questions and comments are welcome. Have you been led by a servant leader maker? Have you had the opportunity to help develop a future servant leader?
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Category: Relationships | Servant Leadership
