What do you think of when you think of the word leader?

Is it someone who has the answer to everything, makes all the calls and stands on the stage with the mic?

Or do you think of someone looking out for others, making sure that everyone is doing alright, who takes care of the things that no one else wants to do?

I always looked to those who were called "leaders" as the ones in charge. They knew schedules that I didn't, they had an idea of what was going on before I was informed of it.

Some of that is true. But that's not all that there is to be a leader.

I am very mature for my age, and as I've grown up, my youth leaders have begun to call me a leader in our youth group. At first, that terrified me. I'm this quiet, shy girl with anxiety and you want me to lead others?

I wasn't sure that they were talking to the right girl. Clearly, they saw that I wasn't capable of being a leader and whatever leadership qualities they thought they saw in me were misplaced.

But it wasn't.

They saw something in me that I didn't see in myself at that time, and their acknowledgment of it opened my own eyes to it. And though I was shy and quiet most of the time, they saw more to me than just that.

They didn't expect me to have the answer to everyone's questions or to run the whole night.

They just saw that I was capable of leading.

Which meant that I was serving.

Matthew 23:11 says, "The greatest among you will be your servant."

My eyes were quickly opened that if I wanted to be this leader that they saw in me, I couldn't just get used to the spotlight--I had to get used to doing things I didn't always want to do.

I had to serve to lead.

My youth pastor says it best, and it's something that I keep in mind daily, "If servanthood is beneath you, then leadership is beyond you."

You cannot just get up there and be in charge. There is so much more to leading than having a microphone in hand and telling people what to do.

There are so many times when I have watched my youth leaders clean up after other youth, completely unasked. I've watched them set up chairs, break down tables and give up their free time to come and work with us.

That's a true leader.

They serve us every week, and that is why they are my leaders. I am inspired by their servant hearts. If they see something similar in me for them to consider me a leader, then I am honored.

But I will never be a leader until I serve those around me willingly.

Cleaning tables is not beneath me.

Taking out the trash is not beneath me.

I am not better than anyone where I can't carry mats, tables, chairs, sound equipment or whatever else is needed to be set up.

"For the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many." Mark 10:45

We must follow Jesus' example and serve to lead. He didn't come for others to do everything for Him. He came to serve others, love others and save others.

If servanthood is beneath you, leadership is beyond you.

Don't look down on serving opportunities like you're so much better than doing something for others. If you want to be a leader, you have to put others first.