THE LOOK OF LEADERSHIP
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones. Honor the Lord with your possessions, And with the first fruits of all your increase; So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine." (Proverbs 3:5-10)
Table Of Contents:
Introduction
The Look Of Faith (5)
The Look Of Submission(6)
The Look Of Humility (7)
The Look Of Purity (7b)
The Look Of Responsibility (8-10)
Conclusion
Introduction:
What does a Christian leader look like? Maybe a better question is: What are the characteristics of a true Christian leader? In what Solomon writes in our text, we find what could be the best criteria for what Christian leadership looks like. Of course when we speak of 'Christian leadership" we are looking at those who show forth the characteristics of our Lord Jesus Christ, as they lead others in the path of the Christian journey, and Christian service. At the top of this post-article, we find from Solomon's writing some very good characteristics of a Christian leader. So in answering the question: What does a Christian leader look like? let's look at the first characteristic.
THE LOOK OF FAITH
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding." (Proverbs 3:5)
I think of a pilot of an airplane, that finds him or her, flying an airplane in a blinding fog. If they go on their own judgment, instead of depending on the instruments of the plane, they may find themselves, being upside down, heading into, who knows what. But if they depend upon the instruments of the airplane, and the direction of the flight tower, they will have a much better awareness of where they are, and where they are going.
As a Christian leader, one must realize that to lead others in the right path, concerning their relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, they must be led as well. These words that I have heard before, really apply to us as Christian leaders. "You cannot lead someone to place you have never been." To desire for those who are under our spiritual care, to have a strong faith, and a solid maturity, we must have a strong desire to have this for ourselves as well.
Of all the virtues we must strive to achieve, faith is one of the most important. We remember what the apostle Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 13:13 "And now abide, faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love." These three spiritual virtues are marks of a mature Christians, and must be evident in the life of a Christian leader.
The Hebrew writer says: "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God, must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." No matter if we are pastors, Christian teachers, evangelists, counselors, youth pastors, music pastors etc, it must be seen that we "trust the Lord with all of our heart."
We are not to parade ourselves around looking like we are all self-sufficient, and priding ourselves in thinking that we are more than what we ought to be. Pride and self-sufficiency should not have a place in the Christian life, and especially in the life of a Christian leader.
How can those under our care, who are struggling with trials, temptations, life challenges, recovery, look to us as examples of complete trust in the Lord, when it isn't there? It must be there.
And how life is less complicated, and full of contentment and peace, when it is there.
All through the Bible, faith is the key for God's people to have a right relationship with God, and being successful in all they did for Him.
Be sure to read Hebrews 11, and see how faith played a part in the lives of God's leaders. They were not perfect, but their faith is what helped them to accomplish God's will for their lives.
How solid is your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ today? Do you trust Him as Savior, and Lord of your life? Have you placed your life completely in His hands? That's not to say, that as Christian leaders, we won't be afraid, as we deal with the challenges in our lives, and the lives of those under our care. But even in the midst of this fear, knowing that the Lord is with us, as He told Joshua (Joshua 1:9), we can go forward into battle, and lead those in our care, to victory after victory.
As we look at a picture of the Christian leader, the apostle Paul in instructing us to put on the full armor of God. We must have in our possession, "the shield of faith, to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one." (Ephesians 6:16) in order to stand firm in the protection, and provisions of our Savior, and Shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ.
As Christians leaders, when we look like this, how can it not stir up the confidence of those who are following us, and depending on us, to faithfully lead them into the battle that is set before us! GP
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