Page 83 - How to Drive the Bottom Line with People

Making Winners Fail

ultimately causes friendship to blossom. It is one thing
to be a servant, but it is something entirely different

to be a friend. Followers of Christ, for example, might
consider the distinction made by Jesus himself near the
end of his life on earth.

During the Last Supper, just prior to his crucifixion,
Jesus said, “I no longer call you servants, because ser-
vants do not know the business of the one they serve.
But I have called you friends because I have made
known to you everything I learned from God.” It is

an interesting statement, considering Jesus’ example.
In essence, servanthood comes first, developing a fer-
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tile field from which relationships, trust, compassion, =

understanding, and friendship grow.
Like timeless, universal truths, servanthood and
friendship are always welcomed. This is not a ques-
tion of religion, yet many people want to make it
such. I believe servanthood and the friendship that

stems from it are often trivialized when efforts are
made to associate such thinking with one religion or
another. Frankly, I believe these truths transcend

arguments regarding doctrine or denominationalism.
They bring us to a greater understanding of God’s
love for people. My role is not to condemn or con-
done, but to seek commonality first. What seems