Leadership is one of the most misunderstood words in our world today. For many, true leadership is seen as sitting at the head of the table, issuing commands, and enjoying the privileges of position. But history, scripture, and everyday life prove otherwise. True leadership is not about escaping service; it is about embodying it. The crown does not cancel the apron—it proves you are worthy to wear both.
When we say, “Once a servant, always a servant,” we mean that the best leaders never forget where they started. They don’t see service as something to abandon once they rise, but as something to continue even with greater responsibility. Leadership is simply service on a larger stage.
David: The Shepherd Who Never Stopped Serving
The life of David illustrates this principle powerfully. Before he became king, David was a shepherd boy, tasked with caring for sheep that most considered insignificant. Yet he poured himself into that service with faithfulness. He fought lions and bears to protect animals that weren’t even his own (1 Samuel 17:34–36). Later, when Goliath challenged Israel, David’s courage didn’t spring up overnight. It was forged in those quiet, thankless days of service in the fields.
Even after he was anointed king, David continued serving. One day, his father sent him to deliver bread and cheese to his brothers on the battlefront (1 Samuel 17:17–18). Most people, after being told they would be king, might scoff at such a humble task. Not David. He carried the bread faithfully, and it was this errand of service that placed him at the battlefield where he would face Goliath. In other words, his willingness to serve opened the door to his defining moment.
Later, as king, David was often called the “shepherd of Israel” (Psalm 78:70–72). He led not with arrogance but with the heart of a servant, understanding that kingship was simply an extension of shepherding.
Moses, Joseph, and Jesus: Servants Before Leaders
David’s story is not unique.
Moses grew up as a prince in Egypt, trained in Pharaoh’s courts. Yet, it was not palace training that shaped him into a leader of Israel—it was shepherding in Midian. For forty years, Moses tended sheep in obscurity, learning patience, endurance, and humility. By the time God called him from the burning bush (Exodus 3:1–10), Moses had learned how to guide living creatures with gentleness. That same heart would later guide millions of people through the wilderness.
Joseph also exemplifies this truth. Betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, and imprisoned unjustly, Joseph never stopped serving. In Potiphar’s house, he managed everything faithfully. In prison, he organized and helped fellow prisoners. His leadership in low places prepared him for high places. When Pharaoh elevated him to govern Egypt (Genesis 41:41–44), Joseph led with wisdom, empathy, and competence because he had been faithful in the shadows.
And then there is Jesus—the ultimate servant leader. At the height of His ministry, when His disciples expected Him to demonstrate power, He removed His outer garment, took a towel, and washed their feet (John 13:12–15). He said plainly: “He that is greatest among you shall be your servant” (Matthew 23:11, KJV). This was not just a lesson in humility; it was a declaration of what leadership truly is.
Fresh Everyday Pictures of Servant Leadership
We don’t need to look only at scripture to see this principle at work. Servant leadership is woven into the fabric of life, and its power shows up in surprising places.
Education
The best teachers and school leaders are those who remember what it felt like to be students. They know the frustration of not understanding a lesson, the fear of failure, and the joy of finally “getting it.” A school principal who takes time to sit with struggling students, even when their schedule is packed, reflects the truth that leadership is not about being above the classroom but being available in it. Their service earns respect in ways a title never could.
Sports
The world of sports is filled with servant leadership stories. Consider Steve Kerr, head coach of the Golden State Warriors. Before becoming a coach, Kerr was a role player in the NBA, known not for superstardom but for hard work, listening, and executing his role faithfully. Today, as a coach, Kerr empowers his players, listens to his input, and even steps aside to let them lead huddles. His years as a “servant player” inform his servant style of coaching. And his results are multiple championships. Kerr shows that true leadership is not about commanding from above but empowering from alongside.
Arts
Artists who rise to stardom but remain grounded are often those who never forget their humble beginnings. The singers who treat their crew with respect, the actors who thank their stagehands, the directors who listen to junior staff—these are the ones who embody servant leadership. Their fame does not excuse them from service; instead, it magnifies the way they serve.
Healthcare
In hospitals, doctors who once worked as interns often become the most compassionate leaders. They know what it’s like to run the night shift, to fetch supplies at odd hours, and to be overlooked. When they rise, they don’t dismiss interns or nurses—they honor them. Their leadership works because it is rooted in service they once gave.
Community Leadership
Perhaps the most visible example comes from public life. Too many leaders rise and forget the people who lifted them. They ride in convoys, speak from podiums, and remain unreachable. But the true servant leader still walks the streets, visits markets, and shakes hands with ordinary citizens. They don’t just campaign during elections; they keep serving between them. Communities love such leaders because they remain close, real, and relatable. This is why when servant leaders speak, people listen—not because of titles, but because of trust.
Why This Truth Matters
When leaders remember they are servants first, several things happen. They stay connected to reality, because serving keeps them close to people’s actual needs. They remain grounded in humility, because service doesn’t allow pride to grow unchecked. They build trust, because people see that they are not too big to get their hands dirty. And they continue to grow, because serving exposes them to challenges that spark innovation.
On the other hand, leaders who forget service quickly lose touch. They rule instead of lead. They grow arrogant, disconnected, and ineffective. History is filled with such examples—leaders who rose too high to serve and eventually lost everything.
A Book to Deepen This Lesson
If you want to explore this principle further in everyday life and leadership, I recommend “The Servant Leader: How to Build a Creative Team, Develop Great Morale, and Improve Bottom-Line Performance” by James A. Autry. This book, available on Amazon, blends wisdom with practical examples, showing how service transforms leadership in businesses, organizations, and communities. It’s not theory—it’s application. Reading it will help anyone, whether a teacher, coach, manager, or public leader, understand how to live out servant leadership daily.
Final Word
Servant leadership is not weakness—it is the deepest form of strength. The crown doesn’t cancel the apron; it proves you are worthy to wear both.
So here’s the question for reflection: What acts of service shaped who you are today? And are you still willing to do them now, even with more responsibility?
Because leadership, at its core, is not about what you are called—it is about what you continue to do.
Once a servant, always a servant.
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