Tag: SALT

What Do Leaders Seek?

The Gospels reveal the idea of seeking on several occasions.

In Matthew, Jesus emphasized the need to seek first the kingdom of God.

In Mark, religious leaders sought for a sign from Jesus, but their motives were impure.

In Luke, we find areas that involve what we seek, either materially or spiritually.

John also indicates that Jesus was motivated to seek.

Jesus clearly sought to do the will of the Father, to glorify Him. As spiritual leaders, what will we seek to do or accomplish with our leadership?

We have been entrusted with a great responsibility and opportunity. What we seek makes all the difference in the lives we touch.

Others-Centered Leadership…

The world is self-centered and people often look out only for themselves.

Rare is the individual whose legacy is built upon doing things for others. Kalu Kalu wrote, “The things you do for yourself are gone when you are gone, but the things you do for others remain as your legacy.”

Spiritual leaders stand out for this quality. Why?

Jesus taught and set this example. The final lesson before His death was the lesson of servanthood.

The apostles taught it to the early church. Unity and harmony are built on service.

When we follow, we leave a legacy that leads to a home with God.

Why Leaders Learn…

We can learn from the mistakes and successes of others. We can learn from people with academic credentials and those who only have experience.

Learning is not the issue. We learn something everyday from someone. We cannot help it or resist it. Everything connected to our senses creates a learning situation.

However, what we learn is what makes the difference.

From a spiritual perspective, are we learning more about God and each other as Christians? 

Learning what matters spiritually provides a foundation for lasting leadership. When we consider the importance of learning, remember it is what we learn that is most important.

Renewed Leaders…

Retreats provide opportunity for renewal, and it is an amazing  time to share progress, discuss problems, and plan for the future. 

Retreats bring people closer together as brothers and sisters, as well as, fellow workers participating in the greatest work on earth.

This is a great take away lesson for leaders.

The day to day grind of work, shuffling one stack of papers to the next, struggling to resolve problems, and an incredible work schedule will deplete leaders.

Spiritually, we must be renewed in our relationship with God. Such renewal keeps us focused, accountable, and strong in providing help to others.

Constant Leadership…

Constant means remaining the same over an extended period of time.

Children need parents who provide an example and instruction for how to live that is constant.

Employees need direction that is constant for future growth and development.

The implication for spiritual leadership is the same. Why? Because God is constant. His word does not change. He does not change.

Since God is such a constant for life, our efforts must be to develop the qualities needed to demonstrate a constant for others.

If there was ever a need within the church for the world to see, it would be something constant.

Work Worth Finishing…

Is our current project worth finishing? Will it make a difference in the lives of others?

When leading others there are some things worth achieving in our leadership. Consider the following.

Andrew: He was responsible for bringing Peter to Jesus. For leaders, bringing others to Jesus is a task worth achieving.

Barnabas: His name means “son of encouragement.” Providing encouragement to others is one of the greatest leadership achievements.

Timothy: He taught those who were faithful to teach others. Such activity would ensure salvation for everyone involved.

If we can achieve the activity of these individuals, our leadership will make a difference.

Character and Reputation…

People watch their leaders. This is especially true when it comes to spiritual leaders. The life of a spiritual leader is under the microscope 24/7. 

Consider John Wooden’s observation, “Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.”

Sadly, we live in a culture where we are afraid to hurt someone’s feelings, or offend them. Therefore, we tend to be more concerned with the way others see us, than developing the right character.

There needs to be a good balance in the way we approach relationships. 

If we focus on our character, the rest has a way of working out appropriately.

Successful Leading…

Success is linked to a vision, goals, and plans. 

A daily “to-do” list provides great value as we check off each item accomplished, and leaders understand that success is built upon daily achievement over an extended period.

What is the point? 

The only way we can enjoy true success is when we know where we are going and what we must do to get there.

Talking about a checklist for life and leadership has little meaning if we are not aware of both. We must determine where we want to go and develop a plan/checklist to help us get there.

If we desire to help people reach heaven, then think about how we will lead them there.

Helping Our Leadership…

What is it that gets us up and going in the mornings? Is it coffee? Exercise? Regardless, we all have times we need a little help.

Start the day with the Lord in prayer. Nothing helps more than pouring our hearts out to the heavenly Father. Speak from the heart and know He is listening. 

Follow up with reading the Word. David needed a pick-me-up, and he expresses how God’s word was the meditation of his heart. The same is true for us.

Provide someone else with a hand up. Few activities lift the spirit more than helping others. If we open our eyes and look, opportunities abound. Doing so lifts our own spirits.

Assessing Our Leadership…

Leadership development must have a means by which we measure or determine specified growth or advancement.

But how can we assess our leadership accurately?

First, consider the activity of followers. If there is no activity, we are not growing. Growth is measured by application.

Second, examine feedback responses. Positive and negative feedback have a powerful place when assessing growth and development.

Third, find a mentor. We cannot overstate the value of a mentor who will examine our leadership and provide feedback to grow.

While there are many other suggestions, leadership development is critical to the growth and advancement of any work.