Learning to Lead
If I asked you what makes a good leader, what would you say? Someone that’s responsible? Someone that’s orderly? Kind? Selfless? Captivating? Leadership is defined as an individual or group of individuals who have the ability to influence and guide followers or members of an organization. The world’s idea of a leader is someone who has made their way to the top, who is successful and powerful. It can be hard sometimes to be a Christian leader in a secular world. Sometimes it means doing something that looks completely different than everyone around you. Sometimes it means stepping out and standing up for what is right. To be true leaders, we must serve, love and add value to others.
So why is leadership so important? Truthfully, everything rises and falls on leadership. If we are overloading ourselves, putting too much on our plates, not taking time to fuel our mind and body, or not spending intentional time with the Lord, then those around us and those following us are going to see that and likely allow those things to overflow into their lives as well. As leaders, and as believers, people are always watching us. Watching how we’re going to handle tough situations or how we’re going to respond when people hurt us. Christian leadership requires strength. It’s standing so firm in what you believe that, even when it’s difficult, you still choose to take the path that glorifies God. You still choose love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Christian leadership also requires service. We are called to serve the people around us and to love them like Jesus loved. If you want an example, just look at Jesus. He was a great teacher and leader and he spent his life loving and serving others constantly. In John 13:13-15 Jesus says, “You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If then your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.” In these verses, Jesus isn’t literally saying that to be a leader we need to go around washing everyone’s feet. But what he is saying, is that great leaders focus on serving others. Great leaders come to serve, not to be served. Great leaders wash their people’s feet. Leaders don’t lead just to be successful or to get the platform or to gain the followers. It’s so much more than that. Leadership is serving people even when it’s lonely. It’s adding value to people even when it’s hard. It’s being there for people when they’re hurting and pointing them back to truth.
All throughout scripture we read about great leaders. There’s Noah who was chosen to build and lead his family and each animal on an ark during a flood that wiped out humanity (Genesis 6). God saw that Noah was righteous when no one else was. Noah was obedient in his leadership even though it was lonely. There was Abraham who embraced uncertainty, still choosing to trust God when he was called to pick up his life and move out of his comfort zone, away from everything that he had ever known (Genesis 12.) Remember David? The guy who stepped up and fought Goliath, a 9-foot-tall Philistine? 1 Samuel 17:45 says, “Then David said to the Philistine, ‘You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.’”
These are only a few examples out of so many more that we can look at and learn from. Each of these leader’s experiences were not “glamourous” by any means. I’m sure it was hard and even scary sometimes, but they knew what they were called to do, they knew who they followed and they knew what they believed in. They trusted God was not leading them into these positions to be left there alone or because he thought it would be fun. But rather to grow closer to the Lord and to lead those around them to him.
Leadership looks different in each of our lives. Some of you may be a leader of thousands, some may be a leader of few, but we all have an influence. It’s what you do with that influence that matters. Connect with people and love them well. Lift up those around you. Never stop learning. Look to God for guidance and follow him in obedience. Stand strong in your convictions and share those beliefs with everyone around you. Lead well even when it’s hard.
Challenges:
Serve. Just like we see Jesus serve those around him, make it a priority to serve those around you. Service is one of the best ways to show people Christ’s love and it’s the best way to lead.
Trust God. We looked at some leaders in the Bible and how difficult their experiences must have been, but how they stayed true to themselves and trusted God so much that they walked into each situation with faith and peace.
Pray. I preach this over and over again but when in doubt, PRAY. Pray for the Lord to guide you in leadership. Pray that you would walk in obedience and trust. Ask him to reveal ways that you can lead better and look more like Jesus.
Prayer:
Lord, thank you for this wonderful day. Thank you for the gift of leadership! Thank you that you place people in our lives to help lead us, and that you also give us the ability to lead others. I pray abundant blessing over each of us and that as we go throughout our days, we would lead well. We would love, serve and value those around us. I pray that we would live a life worthy of you, God. Help us to look more like you and use us as vessels to bring people to your glory! We love you and we praise you. In Jesus’ name! Amen!