Tag: Humility

Ability and Character

John Wooden is famous for many reasons, one of which is his leadership thoughts. He once said, “Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there.”

In the recent Olympics, we witnessed people with great ability, amazing talent.

However, many who possess great ability can demonstrate little character. Without character, regardless of the ability, it is impossible to have lasting leadership.

Perhaps the major difference is the idea of being at the top, because spiritual leadership is about the humility to be at the bottom and to remain humble enough to stay there.

This is where leadership character is demonstrated best.

The Mind of Christ

A spiritual leader invests in seeking the mind of Christ.

Paul highlights a Christlike motive: “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit.”

He identifies the foundational attitude: “But with humility of mind.”

The concluding activity is vital to the mind of Christ: “Regard one another as more important than yourselves.”

The significance of understanding the mind of Christ must be coupled with the need to seek the mind of Christ.

When these two areas meet, leadership provides a Christlike direction for others.

A Gentle Leader

Gentleness is opposed by those who foster aggression, self-promotion, and who aspire to positions of power.

Three thoughts help create gentleness in our lives: altering our posture through prayer, learning to yield, and spending time with those of “no account.”

Kneeling in prayer and speaking to God about those who have wronged or angered us increases the difficulty of speaking harshly to them.

Humility takes pride out of the picture when we demonstrate a willingness to yield our will to that of someone else.

The spirit of hospitality reaches out to those who do not have status or a position of power in the eyes of the world.

Serving Others

Lewis Carroll claims that “one of the secrets of life is that all that is really worth the doing is what we do for others.”

The approach to life in determining what is in the best interest of someone else must drive our leadership.

Biblically, this idea becomes a common thread throughout many of the individual books written to God’s people.

The mind of Christ involves a humble spirit that seeks to do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but one that regards others as more important than self (Phil. 2:3-5).

This is the heart of leadership. May we always strive to serve.

Humility

What’s missing in your leadership might range from the most simple of ideas to the most complex of leadership teams.

The value of exploring what might be missing for leaders demonstrates the kind of humility great leaders need in their leadership.

When humility is part of the equation, along with an openness to the possibilities, then followers will step up.

A sense of creativity, innovation, and motivation will exist to provide a stronger morale in achieving short and long term goals.

We cannot underestimate the power of humility seen in God’s leaders.

Leading with Prayer

I recently heard a question asked, “Do we believe in prayer?”

Most people can attest to God answering prayers in powerful ways.

Perhaps the struggle we have deals with the temptation to doubt when various trials arise and challenge our faith in God’s power to answer.

There is no magic formula, special words, proper position, or time of day that makes a difference in prayer.

For Christians, prayer is about the simplicity of a humble heart that trusts God to answer in His time, in His ways, and in our best interest.

We may not always understand, but prayer is foundational to powerful leadership.

Preparation

Preparation is essential in every area of life. The lack of preparation often results in consequences that damage our influence and leadership.

God designed leadership to be self-sacrificing, one of self-denial where others are more important than self.

Paul’s letter to the church at Philippi is a quick read, but one filled with depth about the type of influence leaders were intended to have through an “others-centric” style of leading.

The right mind (humility), the right example (Christ), the right design (interest of others), and the right motive (abounding love and grace).

With this combination, leaders prepare themselves to lead with significance. The result makes an eternal difference.

Paul…Part 2

Paul presents many qualities of leadership, some we looked at previously.

Consider a few additional qualities:

Humble: He considered himself the least of the apostles, not fit to be called an apostle, and he was the chief of sinners. He certainly understood and exemplified humility.

Dedicated: Paul was determined to know nothing except Jesus Christ and Him crucified (1 Co. 2:2-5). He was dedicated to do whatever necessary to preach this message.

Compassionate:
His love for all who were lost and his intense concern over the church is an example of true leadership. He wanted nothing more than for people to be saved.

Hand of Leadership

God’s hand holds consequence and reward. It creates fear and hope. The writer of Hebrews says it is a “terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” They also express how Jesus is sitting on the right hand of God, a place of prominence and power.

James also instructs us to humble ourselves “under the mighty hand of God.”

What does this have to do with leadership?

The hand of leadership provides hope and leads with humility.

There is prominence and power in the hand with which we lead. We have an opportunity to make a difference by the hand of a leader.

Humble Leaders

Life constantly changes.

Preparing our minds for all the possible changes in life is significant.

If you knew the one secret to prepare for those changes, would you seek it, take it, and apply it in your life? Of course. We all would.

Humility is the one secret to make this preparation.

Developing humility is a lifelong endeavor to achieve.

Humility recognizes our need for God.

Humility works each day at putting the needs of others above our own.

When the changes of life come along, humility enables us to approach change with the wisdom to deal with it appropriately.