Respect is often a two-way street, but the challenge involves earning respect.

A few simple ideas can help leaders earn respect.

Be dedicated to the Lord: Focus on Christ and make the souls of others a priority.

Be consistent: Posner and Kouzes say, “The video needs to match the audio.”

Love people: A deeper understanding of love might help us understand why it covers a multitude of sins.

We could argue whether respect is earned or demanded. However, applying a few simple principles to our leadership will answer the questions.

Why do more not lead? One of the top reasons involves the difficultly.

We have all heard, “If it were easy everyone would do it.” Well, it is not easy. At the same time, everyone is doing it. We all influence others. The question how do we influence them?

For good or evil?
To build on the rock or sand?
To walk in the light or darkness?
To be a sheep or a goat?
To live for Christ or against Him?

It is one tough job, but it is worth the effort.

Spiritual leadership should be based on a thought expressed by Harvey S. Firestone, “It is only as we develop others that we permanently succeed.”

We must equip and train others to lead. Who will replace you and me? Are we preparing them for the work?

From a worldly perspective, leadership is inward focused. One must be self-centered in order to make one’s own way. Robert Kennedy said, “People say I am ruthless. I am not ruthless. And if I find the man who is calling me ruthless, I shall destroy him.”

Jesus developed the apostles quite diffferently. The success of their work continues today and will throughout eternity.

The success of our leadership, and the future of the church, rests on developing others.

What do we believe and why do we believe it?

Amazingly, and getting straight to the point, when we believe something, we talk about it to others. We express why our belief is so strong. When we do not believe there seems to be no purpose.

Quoting from the Old Testament, Paul wrote to the church at Corinth, “I believe therefore I speak.”

We have opportunity to influence many people everyday. It is fundamental to leadership. Are we talking about what we believe? Do we speak because of the overwhelming nature of what we believe and why we believe it?

The power of communication allows us an avenue to share a belief system based on the evidence of truth. Make it count!

Remember when Jesus pointed out how the Pharisees and Sadducees were able to state the obvious regarding the signs of the weather, yet were blind to the signs from heaven?

Well, our leadership needs to be about both. We need an eye for the obvious, one in tune with the environment and present circumstances all around us.

However, we also need a vision for the future. We need to see where we are going and what it will take to get there.

No creative and crafty approach will produce the kind of spiritual leaders God needs today. We need leaders who know the way and can point people to it!

Someone has said, ”I do not know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody.”

No one wants to experience failure, and many do not lead because they are afraid to fail. If everyone had this attitude, where would we be spiritually? If no one had the courage to lead, even when difficult, what would happen to the church? We know it is impossible to please everyone. Therefore…

Lead with the Bible as the basis for all decisions.

Make decisions with confidence.

Communicate decisions clearly.

Express reasons why the decisions are made.

Understand not everyone will like or agree with all decisions and it’s okay.

“The conclusion, when all has been heard: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person.”

This is true for any generation and culture.

What is the conclusion of the matter when it comes to our leadership?

Can we summarize our purpose as leaders in terms that apply to everyone?

Do we point people to the One with answers for life, both good and bad?

What answer will we give concerning our leadership when called into account?

When we stand before the throne of Christ, let us make sure the conclusion of the matter is clear regarding our leadership.

Time sure seems to go faster the older we get. Wow! Keeping up with the movement of time gets more and more challenging.

The clock is ticking. We all have the same amount time moving at the same speed. We were born into the realm of time and it just keeps ticking.

Spiritual leaders, however, should focus their attention on the realm with no time, where the clock never ticks.

It is impossible to comprehend the eternal realm with our finite minds. By faith we know it exists and at some point the space of time will end.

We must be ready and we need to influence others to be ready as well.

Regardless of our like or dislike of seat belts and affiliated laws, seat belts were designed to protect drivers and passengers in the event of accidents.

The intent is not to debate the benefit or detriment of wearing seat belts. However, it raises an important thought for leaders.

Spiritual leaders are to provide protection in the event of temptation, trial, struggle, and weakness. Our influence should create confidence in our ability to provide safety. What does this mean? Think about the similarities:

1) We must be there when the need exists.
2) We must connect with people to be useful.
3) We must protect without being uncomfortable.
4) We must signal when someone is unprotected.

Thomas Jefferson once said, “In matters of style, swim with the current. In matters of principle, stand like a rock.”

Spiritual leaders face challenges every day. There are personality conflicts, trivial matters, life changing decisions, and numerous other areas that weigh heavy on the hearts of those who lead.

There will be times when leaders must be flexible. However, other times require a determined stance for what is right. Sadly, we often see the opposite, leaders who are flexible on principle and immovable on their opinions.

Jefferson provides a good rule-of-thumb to live by. In spiritual language, perhaps we could say it this way, “In matters of opinion, go along. In matters of doctrine, stand strong.”