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.
Being connected with people is vital to good leadership. Several elements will help establish that connection.
1) Be transparent.
2) Provide hope.
3) Consistency is essential.
4) Relate to people individually.
5) Find ways to genuinely compliment others.
Leaders who connect lead with passion and integrity. They know and are known by others. Love for others drives a leader’s heart. Reaching the goal motivates a leader’s actions. Staying connected keeps a leader balanced.
Negotiating is an effort to reach an agreement or solution through compromise. Most often, there is give and take, thus, compromise.
Spiritual leaders need to exercise caution when it comes to negotiating. Far too often God’s word is compromised in an attempt to appease a larger majority of people.
Attempts to negotiate, compromise, or change the word of God are futile.
Our leadership should not move people away from God and His word. Rather, our leadership should move people toward God and His word.
Compassion is best described as a feeling of sympathy aroused by the distress of others with a desire to get involved and help. It is easy to see how Jesus would be described this way.
The tougher an environment becomes, the more our need for compassion increases. During the challenges of life, the awareness of leadership to the needs of others becomes evident.
Leadership senses must be engaged, observant to the surroundings.
Their hearts must be touched with the situation of others.
The hands of a compassionate leader must act to help.
Compassion is one of the unique qualities spiritual leaders must possess to be like Christ.
In the Old Testament we find a great contrast between deliverance by the hand of the Lord and oppression by the hand of Israel’s enemies.
God’s hand holds both consequence and reward. While God’s hand creates fear, it also instills hope. “It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Yet, Jesus sits at the right hand of the majesty on high and intercedes for us.
We are instructed to humble ourselves “under the mighty hand of God.”
The hand of leadership leads out of humility and provides hope.
We have an opportunity to make a difference with the use of our hand.
This day and every day. This year and every year – I am thankful to all of you for your encouragement and support of this great work. I pray you have a very Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving.
Why is it life and leadership cannot always be about the upside? Is there a purpose to dealing with the negative struggles challenging life and leadership?
Spiritual leaders know the downside helps in developing an appreciation for the upside.
God’s power is perfected in our lives as a result of enduring the downside.
The downside is designed to equip us with an ability to help others who are suffering.
The difference is found in the way leaders respond to these challenges. The downside indicates that challenges and problems will come. The upside is they are only temporary.
Lead with the hope of knowing there is an upside.
The grass may seem greener on the other side of the fence, but be careful. Consider a few ideas.
1) If something appears to good to be true, it generally is.
2) Most often, the other side is not always what it first appears.
3) An inappropriate desire for the other side leads to sin.
4) Focusing on the other side distracts us from the present work.
5) Remember, someone may be looking with desire at your side of the fence.
Leadership has a responsibility to stay focused on the goal ahead. However, we must prevent followers from being distracted by the other side of the fence.
Problems arise when leaders abuse power, or base their power on an inward self-centeredness.
Spiritual leadership must be built on the power of God.
When our leadership turns inward and self-centered, it will fail.
True leadership is about the power that comes from our God through His gracious and indescribable gift, Jesus.
He is the power to save, to make all things happen, and to lead.
Paul wrote “no man has the power to lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus the Christ” (1 Co. 3:11).
Let us pray for His guidance and direction in our leadership.