Standing on the Shoulders of Giants: How to Be a Young Servant and Leader in God’s Work
Introduction
The transition from being a follower to being a leader is one of the most challenging journeys a young person can take. In the Kingdom of God, leadership is not about titles, power, or social media influence; it is about character and faithfulness.
If we are looking for a model of how to navigate this journey, we find no better example than Joshua. He didn't just appear on the scene as a conqueror; he was forged in the desert, shaped by service, and sustained by a deep relationship with God. Joshua shows us that the path to the "Promised Land" of leadership always begins at the "Altar of Service."
1. Joshua was a Man of Profound Humility
Text: Exodus 24:13; 33:11; Joshua 1:1
The world teaches us to climb over others to get to the top. Joshua teaches us to serve under others to get to the heart of God.
• A Leader Who Was First a Servant: For forty years, Joshua served under the orders of Moses. He was referred to as "Moses' aide" or "servant." Before he ever commanded an army, he was comfortable carrying someone else's luggage and assisting in someone else's vision.
• Paving the Road to the Future: Young people who have no problem serving others—setting up chairs, cleaning the temple, or assisting their elders—are actually paving the road for their own future leadership. You cannot lead those you have not first learned to serve.
• The Heart of a Permanent Servant: Even when God "magnified" Joshua in the sight of all Israel (Joshua 3:7; 4:14), his heart remained that of a servant. In Joshua 5:13-15, when he encounters the Commander of the Army of the Lord, Joshua falls on his face. He knew he was the servant of Someone Greater.
2. Joshua was a Man of Faith and Trust in God
Text: Numbers 13:25-28; Joshua 6:1-5; 3:13-17
True leadership requires the courage to trust God when the majority is terrified.
• Resisting Peer Pressure: When the twelve spies returned from Canaan, ten were paralyzed by fear. Joshua and Caleb stood alone against the majority opinion (Numbers 14:6-9). They didn't cede to the pressure; they leaned on the promise.
• Trusting the Method, Not the Muscle: At Jericho, Joshua followed a strategy that made no military sense—marching and shouting. At the Jordan River, he stepped into the water before it parted. These acts of faith show a young leader who doesn't rely on their own skills or "aptitude," but on God's "omnipotence."
• Application: Young leaders don't fall into the error of self-confidence. They know that talent can get you into a position, but only faith in God can keep you there.
3. Joshua was a Man Guided by the Word of God
Text: Joshua 1:8; 24:15; 8:30-35
Success in the Kingdom of God is not measured by numbers, but by adherence to the Book.
• The Formula for Success: God gave Joshua a clear command: "Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night." Joshua’s triumph was the direct result of living "tethered" to the Word.
• Putting God First: In his famous final speech, Joshua declared, "As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord" (Joshua 24:15). He put God above everything and everyone else.
• Multiplying Success: Joshua didn't want to be the only "winner." He made the people repeat the Law and built altars for them to remember God's Word. He understood that a true leader wants those around him to succeed just as much as he does.
• No "Lone Rangers": Joshua recognized the influence of those who formed him (like Moses). In ministry, there are no "Lone Rangers." We are part of a lineage of faith (Joshua 11:15).
4. Joshua was a Man of Prayer
Text: Joshua 10:9-14
A leader who does not pray is a leader who is operating on human strength—which will eventually fail.
• Total Dependency: Joshua understood that his strength was in God. He didn't make a move without seeking divine direction.
• Audacious Prayer: Joshua’s prayer life was so bold that he asked the sun to stand still—and God listened. This level of influence with God only comes from a life of consistent communion.
• Influencing a Generation: Because Joshua was faithful in his private prayer and public service, he influenced an entire generation to remain faithful to God (Joshua 24:16-17, 31).
- 5 Impactful Marks of a Young Christian
- Why Every Young Christian Should Be a Soul Winner
- 3 Attitudes of a Spiritually Mature Young Person
Conclusion: The Legacy of a Servant-Leader
Joshua was a "young man" when he began his journey as an assistant, and he ended his life as a "servant of the Lord" (Joshua 24:29). His humility, his service, his trust, his faithfulness to the Word, and his life of prayer became a catalyst for an entire nation.
Young people, God is not looking for the most talented person in the room; He is looking for the most surrendered person. Be a Joshua. Serve faithfully in the shade, and God will eventually call you to lead in the sun.
