The Paradox of Servanthood

Hi everyone,

It’s been a while. Thank you for sticking around. I lost my motivation to post newsletters, but I kept thinking about a number of topics.

In this month’s newsletter, I want to draw your attention to something that may feel counterintuitive: servanthood.

Weird, right? Servanthood is not exactly a buzzword in today’s world but I found myself thinking about this word a lot considering the fact that everything we see on LinkedIn, on social media, in books and self-help courses, is about freedom. It’s about living life on your own terms, about chasing wealth, happiness, and success. The message is clear: you are the most important person in your story.

But what if the greatest position you could ever hold is that of a servant?

The Greatest Among You

Jesus, the most powerful man to ever walk the earth, said:

“Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:26-28)

This is a paradox. We associate power with control, leadership with authority, and success with independence. But Christ, who had all power, chose servanthood. He washed the feet of His disciples. He spent time with the poor, the sick, the forgotten. He laid down His life for those who didn’t deserve it.

And yet, in His servanthood, we see the deepest kind of strength, the truest kind of love, and the highest form of leadership.

Do You Want to Be a Servant?

Can you look back to a point in your life when you wanted to be a servant? When you willingly humbled yourself for the good of another?

Maybe it was in a small, unseen act of kindness. Maybe it was in loving someone without expecting anything in return. Maybe it was in forgiving when you had every right not to.

The world tells us these things make us weak. But Christ shows us they make us more like Him.

The Beauty of Choosing Servanthood

Servanthood is not about being passive or powerless. It is about choosing a life that reflects Christ. It’s about loving people even when it costs us something. It’s about leading by lifting others up, not by pushing them down.

And here’s the mystery: when we pour ourselves out for others, we don’t end up empty—we find ourselves more full than we ever imagined. Because servanthood connects us to the heart of God. It is the closest thing to the love that created and sustains the world.

So today, I invite you to reflect:

• Where is God calling you to serve?

• Who in your life needs to be lifted up?

• How can you model Christ’s humility in a world that chases self-exaltation?

The highest calling is not to be served, but to serve. And in that, there is more joy, purpose, and fulfillment than the world could ever offer.

Until next time,

Elizabeth