Philippians 2:5-6 says, “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking on the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.” This is part three of a series on building a winning team. This is the principle of servant leadership. This biblical principle has been around for thousands of years, but ironically it is just now being understood and applied in corporate America.

This concept focuses on building up people within an organization by serving their needs in order that they can do their jobs better. Servant leaders do several things. First, they provide their people with the supplies, resources, and materials needed to get the job done. Second, they care about the personal as well as professional success and well-being of their people. Third, they put the needs of their people in front of their own. They also give up their rights as head of the department or organization, to serve their people.

Of course, these are all excellent things, but this isn’t a new concept. Jesus Christ set the ultimate example of being a servant leader. He was God in the flesh, and today’s verse tells us He didn’t hold to His rights as God, but He gave them up in order to serve you and me. A servant has no rights–they’re there to serve. This is what Jesus demonstrated for us. So remember, the next time you feel offended or wronged, just say to yourself, “I am a servant. I won’t hold on to my rights. I’m only here to serve.”

It’s a tough thing to do, but the more we work on being a servant, the more we appreciate what Jesus did for us on the cross. Let’s serve one another and follow His model. When you do this, you will be applying the truth at work.