Dale Carnegie once said, “No man gets rich without enriching others.”  Carnegie lived that philosophy, as evidenced by the 43 millionaires who worked for him.  One day a reporter asked Mr. Carnegie how he was able to hire so many rich men.

“I didn’t hire them,” he said.  “They got rich working for me.”

Turn A Principle Into a Value

Following Jesus involves serving people in a way that helps them express their God-given and often hidden potential.  Service is a basic principal that must become a value.  By that I mean, service can’t just be an external truth we say is important. We must internalize it so deeply that it shapes our thinking and behavior. 

Jesus said he had not come to be served but to serve.  On a couple of occasions he corrected his disciples because they held to the idea that a leader lords it over other people.  Paul echoed that truth when he wrote, “Do not think of yourselves more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you . . . We have different gifts, according to the grace given us” (Romans 12:3,6).

We Serve Others Best When We Serve God First

Fundamental to becoming a servant leader is recognizing we serve others best when we serve God first.  The psalmist underlined the importance of maintaining this focus when he said; “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain” (Psalm 127:1). 

It’s crucial we avoid focusing our lives on organizing and managing a project or team to reach a goal. Although that’s important. The focus throughout the beginning, middle, and end of our day must be to serve God.

 All sorts of things plead for our devotion.  But God alone deserves it. And as we devote ourselves to God, he will enable enable us to serve others.  He will give us the desire and power needed to help others discover the extent of their God-given potential.  When that happens, we’ll know the joy of helping others realize their dreams.  

 So if you want to follow Jesus by serving others, remember this:  You serve others best when you serve God first.