You've read the books. Seen the TV shows. Been to the seminars. To be a success, you must be ruthless, hungry, willing to do whatever it takes. Hardly the picture of humility, right?

For the Christian, the prevailing notion of fierce competitor in the workplace seems to go against the values imparted on us by our Lord. Some take this as an excuse as to why they cannot succeed. After all, how can one be ruthless and humble at the same time?

As always, we turn to the model of our Lord and Savior for the answer.

It sounds like a contradiction, doesn't it? But that's the nature of our faith. Everything we say and do is contrary to what the world expects. This was as true in Jesus' day as it is now.

Jesus was the head of a fledgling church while on earth. His "Department of Evangelism" was made up of 12 men. How did He lead them? How did He succeed?

First note that Jesus' definition of success is different from the world's to begin with. For our Lord, success rested on the well-being of others. Lost souls were His first priority. Compassion for the lost flowed through his speech continuously. Jesus led by serving. A notion ridiculous in the first century, where social status was paramount. Odd, sounds much like our century, doesn't it?

So how do we translate this servant leader idea to our own workplace? Please, don't go around the office with a basin and towel, washing the feet of your employees. That may cause a stir. But there are modern equivalents. How about fetching a cup of coffee for someone too busy on a hot project to grab it herself? Or make copies when your secretary is obviously buried in work? These small acts may be forgotten by you before the end of the business day, but they'll be remembered by your employees, all of them, for years.

What about the rest of us, who aren't in leadership position yet? How do we get there without stepping outside of our Christian values?

If you'll recall, John and James asked our Lord if they may sit at His right and left hand in the Kingdom. A place of leadership, obviously; akin to the company vice presidents. What was Jesus' response?

"Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave--just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, an to give his life as a ransom for many." (Mt 26-27, NIV)

Yes, Jesus was directing this response to the church leadership, but if you look around at the great leaders of our time, most of them had humble beginnings. While Hollywood loves to portray the corporate CEO who fought his way to a lofty position by destroying everyone in his path, that is rarely the case in the real world. You need allies, dare I say friends. You don't gain the support of others unless you first gain their trust. You don't gain their trust unless you gain their respect.

The Psalmist asks on many occasions why his foes seem to prosper while he flounders, despite his faith. It certainly seems that way on many days. We've all known the guy who's methods are a bit underhanded, but seems to be the boss's best buddy. For those of us who've been around a few years, though, we know that these guys usually end up wrapped up their own nets.

Staying the course is never easy, especially while the wind and waves of the world buffet you relentlessly. But the Christian has no choice. If we are truly renewed by the Spirit, it is not within us to crush our competitors under our heel. We are commanded to practice humility, grace, mercy, compassion. All these will bring us victory in this life and the next.

When it seems you're only spinning your wheels, just pick up your Bible (you have one in your desk drawer, don't you?) and read the story of the greatest leader of all. Yes, He was crucified. But you can't keep a good man down.

God bless you all.