Tag: Leadership

What Does It Cost?

What does it cost to get an education? What does it cost to raise a family? What does it cost to enjoy freedom?

What does it cost to be a leader? The answer will vary depending on the individual and type of leadership required.

Consider the cost of spiritual leadership.

Regarding Jesus, it involved His life. We can safely say the same will be required of us. Although it may not involve our physical death, we should be ready and willing if it did.

Perhaps the most important cost to remember is one of being a servant. The cost involves putting others above ourselves.

Motive

The motive behind our words and actions is always critical to the success of leadership.

The idea of an ulterior motive indicates a hidden agenda that goes beyond the obvious or stated. The difficulty that often accompanies an ulterior motive is being able to prove the motive. We tend to make accusations about the motives of others because we assume, based on words and actions, the individual has a hidden agenda.

This may or may not be true. We cannot always know the motives of others, but we do know our own.

True spiritual leadership will demonstrate a transparency supported by the word of God. Therefore, we should lead others openly, promoting a pure and sincere motive to lead as God would have us lead.

Privilege to Lead

We are all aware of the challenges of racism and the problems resulting from such. Apart from the fact it is Biblically wrong and sinful, there are a number of elements that make it socially wrong also.

However, true privilege today is spiritually twofold.

The first is the privilege God has given us to be His children, regardless of race.

Second, we find privilege in the opportunity given to lead, again, regardless of race.

While many think there is privilege related to the color of one’s skin, let us focus on the responsibility we have because of the true spiritual privilege given each of us.

Crossroads

Crossroads is a classic song written by Robert Johnson and performed by numerous artists.

Several have tried to explain the meaning of this song. The most revealing involves Johnson’s struggle with loneliness, especially connected to the desperation of finding his way home from an unfamiliar place.

Leadership can certainly be a lonely place. 

Leadership will also take us into unfamiliar places where desperation exists to find our way home.

The result brings us to a crossroads where we question our leadership. We are faced with making challenging decisions.

Spiritually, our life constantly faces crossroads. The decisions we make in those moments determine salvation or condemnation. Our leadership serves to help others at the crossroads of their life to make the right decisions and find their way home.

Valuable Leadership

“No one ever finds life worth living—he has to make it worth living.” – Unknown

Value in life is really based on what we consider valuable. Leaders cannot make life worth living for themselves or others unless they know what is valuable.

If we place value on what we achieve or obtain in this life, then chances are we will not look back on a life worth living.

However, if we place value on helping make life better for others, seeking the eternal reward of others––starting with our families––then life will be a journey well lived.

Here is where true leadership is found.

Childlike Leadership

Observing children raising an interesting question, “Who really leads who?”

While we might like to think parents have a powerful influence in the development of these little lives as they grow, it is interesting how children lead in their own right.

They know how to get everyone’s attention, and quickly.
They know how to follow.
They know they must learn how to work together with others.
They know the value of love and giving it unconditionally.
They know that unsolicited hugs and good manners usually get them what they want.

Think about leadership. Perhaps observing children can help us all improve in our ability to lead.

Stress Factor

What creates stress in your life and why does it seem to increase? Three major contributors are age, education and finances. 

It is amazing how these are connected to who we are, which is directly related to what we do, what others say about us, and what we have.

Only when we recognize who we really are can we overcome this misconception.

Leaders help remove this struggle with stress. 

We all face success and failure. Others speak well of us and against us. We also deal with times when we have and do not have things. 

Whatever happens, we must remember we are the beloved of God.

Frustration

What is it that frustrates us the most? While the list is endless, here are a few.

Incompetence?
Arrogance?
Hypocrisy?
Deception?

Do we get frustrated when we see any or all of the above?

Leadership is not unique when it comes to frustration. Followers get frustrated when they see leadership involved in any of these areas also.

John Maxwell is credited with saying, “Everything rises and falls on leadership.”

It begins with us as leaders to set the example, providing a standard to follow. We must demonstrate patience and understanding in gently leading others to this standard, not condemning or acting condescendingly concerning their actions.

Promised Land

We’ve heard about the land God promises His people. In the Old Testament it was a “land flowing with milk and honey.”

Today, we live with anticipation of a land God has promised, a land beyond anything we can comprehend.

This land will be one of rest where there will be no sickness or death.

Two great truths:

One, we live in a world enslaved to sin. They need someone to lead them to a better land.

Two, God’s people need leaders who will help them keep their focus on this promised land.

The world and the church need leaders who can see the promised land and are willing to lead others there.

Greatness

Leaders face many challenges. One of the greatest is learning that we are all leaders. With this in mind, how should we lead?

Dale Archer said, “When you’re always trying to conform to the norm, you lose your uniqueness, which can be the foundation for your greatness.”

We lead because people need hope.
We lead because salvation is at stake.
We lead because God needs leaders.
We lead because it makes a difference.

Since this is true, let us not conform to how the world sees leadership. Let us rise up and establish a foundation of greatness, leading as the servants God has called us to be in His kingdom.