What will remain in the shadow of our leadership 20, 30, 40, or 50 years from now? Is our legacy as a leader intentional? Will our leadership be a shield to protect and provide for others? What legacy will we leave?
A legacy of money will eventually be spent.
A legacy of possessions will quickly fade.
A legacy of service will soon be forgotten.
A legacy of security will be destroyed.
Only a spiritual legacy influences this present life and the life to come.
When leaders provide direction that is fixed, followers feel secure.
When leaders keep followers safe and unharmed, they feel secure.
When followers are protected from the enemy, they are secure.
When leaders are stable, eliminate anxiety, and are unafraid, security exists.
Consider these thoughts in a spiritual context. Spiritual leaders must provide security that eliminates the fear and anxiety prevalent in the world.
To accomplish this, a few simple steps will help.
1) Be strong in faith.
2) Grow in knowledge of the word.
3) Trust in God.
4) Remember there is strength in numbers.
5) Lead with confidence.
Defining ambition is not difficult. The difficulty arises when we consider where our ambition lies.
Is our ambition driven by financial security, power, or authority?
Would our ambition be characterized by selfish and physical priorities, or a spiritual focus?
Paul identified an ambition that was spiritually and eternally developed, because we make it our ambition to please the Lord.
When our leadership is driven to please the Lord it changes our approach to every area of life, and the church will grow in the grace and knowledge of our Savior.
Our leadership must demonstrate a consistency in life according to what we believe and proclaim. Hypocrisy destroys leadership more quickly than anything else.
The invariability of leading without fail and without exception is critical to the success of strong leadership. No matter what the cost, invariably, leaders will show up.
Followers need leaders with stability. Stability provides followers with security.
Regularity demonstrates a leadership that is fixed, unchanging, and unvarying. When others can count on their leader, they will follow them anywhere.
When we practice these qualities our leadership grows stronger and lasts longer.
Regardless of how long someone has been involved in leadership, there will always be times when leaders need to retreat to a place of refuge, a place of solitude where they find peace.
Also, leaders need a style of leadership that allows others who follow the opportunity to find that place of safety, a place where they can trust in their leadership to provide security.
Even Jesus knew the value of a refuge.
Let us focus on these truths as the foundation for our own leadership.
Security highlights several important factors that have a significant role in leadership.
When leaders provide a direction that does not give way, followers feel secure.
When leaders keep followers safe and unharmed, they feel secure.
When leaders protect followers from an enemy’s attack, they feel secure.
When leaders eliminate anxiety and fear, followers feel secure.
For leaders to accomplish this type of security, they need to…
1) Be strong in faith.
2) Grow in knowledge of the word.
3) Trust in God.
4) Remember there is strength in numbers.
5) Lead with confidence.
What motivates us? Success? Money? Security? Relationships? Power? Survival? Growth?
Whatever it is, leaders are called upon to motivate others. The art of motivation involves knowing how to stimulate or excite action toward desired interests.
The New Testament provides a number of unusual examples.
The greatest in the kingdom are servants.
Those who receive have presented themselves as a living sacrifice.
The blessed first give to others.
Think about the spiritual leadership we offer. Have we set the example based on what motivates us in the same direction?
Here is where our leadership begins. We must be motivated to motivate others to an eternal home.