The quickest way to become a leader is to put everyone else ahead of yourself.
“And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.” (Ephesians 6:9)
I remember when I was a child we always loved to play “Follow the Leader.” It was a simple game. Each person would stand single file behind the leader. The person in front dictated to the playmates behind to follow his actions. The game is over when every one had the opportunity to be a leader.
How would you rate a good leader? Are they compassionate, have a wonderful sense of humor, praises your accomplishments? Or do their personality clash with everyone, they are stern, never smiling, loud and critical of all that you do?
Lets look to Jesus as an excellent Leader. And to those who are called to a ministry, He is their boss.
1. A good leader shows compassion: “He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.” (Isaiah 40:11)
“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” (Matthew 9:36)
2. A good leader provides a solution to employee problems: “When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick.” (Matthew 8:16 16)
“Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” (Hebrews 2:18)
3. A good leader provides food for special occasions: “And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.'” (Luke 9:19)
4. A good leader operates as the middle man in negotiations: “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!'” (John 1:29)
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:16)
5. A good leader knows the CEO or the owner of the establishment: “Just as the Father knows me and I know the Father–and I lay down my life for the sheep.” (John 10:15)
“He was with God in the beginning.” (John 1:2)
6. A good leader provides a self sacrificing devotion to his job: “You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.” (John 11:50)
7. A good leader demons how to be compatible with coworkers: “Greater love has no one than this that he lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)
8. A good leader assigns tasks for each of his followers according to their skills: “Now there are different qualities given to men, but the same Spirit. And there are different sorts of servants, but the same Lord. And there are different operations, but the same God, who is working all things in all. But to every man some form of the Spirit’s working is given for the common good. For to one are given words of wisdom through the Spirit; and to another words of knowledge through the same Spirit: To another faith in the same Spirit; and to another the power of taking away disease, by the one Spirit; And to another the power of working wonders; and to another the prophet’s word; and to another the power of testing spirits; to another different sorts of tongues; and to another the power of making clear the sense of the tongues: But all these are the operations of the one and the same Spirit, giving to every man separately as his pleasure is.” (1Corinthians 12:4-11)
“There is one body and one Spirit, even as you have been marked out by God in the one hope of his purpose for you; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in all. But to every one of us has grace been given in the measure of the giving of Christ. For this reason he says, He went up on high, taking his prisoners with him, and gave freely to men. (Now this, He went up, what is it but that he first went down into the lower parts of the earth? He who went down is the same who went up far over all the heavens so that he might make all things complete.) And he gave some as Apostles, and some, prophets; and some, preachers of the good news; and some to give care and teaching; For the training of the saints as servants in the church, for the building up of the body of Christ: Till we all come to the harmony of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to full growth, to the full measure of Christ:” (Ephesians 4:4-13)
9. A good leader provides a substantial pay raises: “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.” (2 Corinthians 8:9)
10. A good leader will forgive our mistakes: “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.” (Ephesians 1: 7)
11. A good leader acts both as a mediator and arbitrator: “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.” (Ephesians 22:13)
“And he will be the judge between the nations, and the peoples will be ruled by his decisions: and their swords will be turned into plough-blades, and their spears into vine-knives: no longer will the nations be turning their swords against one another, and the knowledge of war will be gone for ever.” (Isaiah 2:4)
“For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance–now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.” (Hebrews 9:15)
12. A good leader demonstrates an example of peace during turmoil: “For it is said, Let the man who has a love of life, desiring to see good days, keep his tongue from evil and his lips from words of deceit: And let him be turned from evil and do good; searching for peace and going after it with all his heart.” (1 Peter 3:10-11)
13. A good leader acts as a shield from all disgruntled clients: “who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.” (Titus 2:14)
14. A good leader sets an excellent example to his employees and the community: “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7)
15. A good leader has proven himself trustworthy: “As the Scripture says, ‘Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.'” (Romans 10:11)
And finally:
16. A good leader will demonstrate the difference between him and impostors: “Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.” (2 John 1:7)
These are just a few of the wonderful examples that Jesus has proven as our Good Leader. Come let’s follow this Leader!
Peace
Sue Ramsey