Servant Leadership and Humility

I sometimes watch the cooking show Chopped, in which four chefs prepare appetizers, entrees, and desserts in a competition for a cash prize. Some of the chefs have outsized egos, and I had to laugh when, after listening to a competitor talk about what a great cook he was, one of the other contestants said in response, “I like humble people.”

Being humble does not preclude being confident. In fact, humble people often are confident, but you wouldn’t know it because they aren’t braggarts and they don’t look down on others.

Image by Lawrence Lew, OP

Jesus was a great promoter of humility. For example, he advocated taking the lowest place at social functions, which would put one in the company of persons with the least power, wealth, and prestige. An outcome of this approach that I had never before considered was described by Barbara Reid, OP: “If such a person is then invited by the host to a higher position, he or she would be able to represent the perspectives of those at the other end of the table in the discussions and decisions that take place at the head.”

Humility is an asset, then, in being an advocate for others. That is a good thing to remember when we choose the candidates we will vote for in local, state, and federal elections. A humble candidate is well grounded and wants to be a servant leader of all people, not just those with wealth and status. When it comes to elected officials, I like humble people. Fortunately, I can usually find some to vote for.