Although stated in various ways, Mark Twain provided a powerful thought when he said, “If you tell the truth you don’t have to remember anything.”

Leaders influence small and large groups of people. Their influence is measured by the level of honesty perceived.

When leaders are seen as dishonest, people will not follow.

When leaders are seen as honest, the opposite is true.

Even when it might seem easier to bend the truth, honesty is always the best policy.

The result of this practice has lasting repercussions on our leadership.

People often take on more work than they are capable of handling. We hear “it is just easier to do the work myself.” We keep adding until we cannot carry it all and something breaks.

Is this right way to lead?

Do leaders really help others reach their potential if they add more to their own plate?

Can overall growth occur if only a few do the work?

Leaders must delegate and distribute the load into appropriate hands.

If everyone does their part, the entire load can be carried. When leadership takes on the responsibility of others, eventually a breaking point comes. Guard against it!

We cannot read Paul’s letters without connecting the word zeal or zealous to him. To be zealous is to have great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or an objective.

God’s grace in our lives should create a zeal driven to lead those who are outside of Christ to Him.

Our leadership can fulfill many purposes from caring for the underprivileged to encouraging the faithful.

Both are essential!

However, little compares to fulfilling the purpose of leading those who need the Lord into a relationship secured by His grace. Think Souls!

Nestled in the concept of an example is our influenceas leaders. We influence people everyday. We influence them in what is right or wrong. The difference is bound up in our example.

Setting an example is associated with consistency. Mahatma Ghandi is noted as saying,  “we must become the change we want to see.”

Setting an example is also connected to servanthood. The only time Jesus said “I gave you an example,” involved being a servant.

If we want to be who God desires, we need to understand the significance identified with our example of leadership.

Although the author is unknown, the following thought is powerful: “No one ever finds life worth living—he has to make it worth living.”

Leadership is about making life worth living for those who follow.

Our task is to make rough paths smooth and the crooked straight.

We live in a dysfunctional society. Families, schools, business, government, religions, and more, do not function as originally designed.

Our role is to give hope. We must use opportunities to help others see the “so what” and the “now what” in life. The answers are what make life worth living.

How would we describe our level of dedication?

In several areas of life, even leadership, when difficulties arise, change, distractions, interruptions, or a failure to measure up to our expectations, our culture looks for bail.

Consider the difference that could be made if we honored our commitments.

Imagine the lives we could change with dedicated hearts.

There is much to be said for men and women who build on a foundation defined by the two words…until death! Marriage takes dedication.

Leadership is the same.

The leadership of Joseph provides powerful spiritual lessons.

Joseph endured adverse circumstances, rejection, slavery, temptation, false accusations, wrongful imprisonment, and he was forgotten.

However, we also learn significant lessons about his leadership.

No matter what happened, God was always with him.
God always worked in his life for a greater purpose.
Faithfulness exalted him and the nation.

These lessons apply today. If we know that God is with us, He works in our lives for a greater purpose, and faithfulness results in exaltation, then our leadership is rooted in the right foundation.

Enoch is not a great Biblical leader because of the number of people who followed him. Truly, no followers are mentioned.

Enoch is a great Biblical leader because he “walked with God.”

Great leaders are characterized by such a walk. Our eulogies should simply read, “(your name) walked with God.”

Enoch’s walk with God was identified by his faithfulness.

Examining the text of Genesis 5 and Hebrews 11, we learn that a walk of faithfulness pleases God. When we trust completely in the promises of God enough to do what He says, even if it means suffering, we walk with Him.

Moses was a great Biblical leader. He possessed many qualities we see in other leaders. However, consider these areas.

He started like most of us: He questioned himself and God’s power to use him to lead His people. Not until Moses submitted to God do we find him becoming the leader God needed.

He had flaws: Moses needed patience, and he needed to treat God as holy.

The objective is to learn how God can use us with our flaws and imperfections. If we submit to God, He will make us into the spiritual leaders He needs.

When we look at biblical leaders, several come to mind. What about Noah stands out that classifies him as a leader?

Character: “Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his time; Noah walked with God.”

Ability to follow: Genesis emphasizes that Noah did all the Lord commanded. Noah followed God.

Fortitude: Noah was a preacher of righteousness. His tenure was 120 years during the building of the ark. Leaders must stand on what is right, even if they must stand alone.

More could be said, but these three areas show Noah to be an example of a great Biblical leader.