Marks of a Great Leader | Lansing
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2 Corinthians 4.2 encourages, by open proclamation of the truth we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience before God.
What do non Christians expect from Christians? Certainly a virtue or morality that is different from everyone else. This would include honesty, compassion, love, hard work, and thoughtfulness. While no one lives perfectly, thus each of us demonstrates our need for God’s forgiveness, those who claim to follow Jesus are expected and even commanded, to live like He lived.
Part of this expectation should be the proclamation of the work of God in Jesus which was necessary for humanity to live eternally with God in heaven and upon the new earth. If Christians believe their manuscript, the Bible, then part of their responsibility, the greatest love they can show, is to encourage, warn, and invite people to repent and follow Jesus lest they face the judgement and condemnation of God upon their death.
While most people believe they are good and have thus earned their spot in heaven, if there really is a God, the Bible describes a different reality. The Bible, God’s written word to humanity so that we can know Him and what He requires from us, informs us that we are born separated from God relationally due to the rebellious nature found in our very DNA so that we do not enter this world children of God but rather enemies of God.
The obviousness of this truth can be found in little children. How is it that they inherently feel the freedom to defy their parents who have loved them and cared for them from birth? These little ones will run away when called to their parents, they will take hold of that which they were commanded not to, they naturally defy their parents. In fact, parenting is the training of children to do what is right because we are naturally bent away from such behavior.
So too, unless we confess to God our rebellion against Him and turn away from the behavior that displeases Him, we will find ourselves receiving the ultimate time out when He separates us for all eternity from Himself in hell where there is never ending suffering and pain.
The Christian who loves people understands this natural human destiny but demonstrates the love of God by warning, pleading and encouraging all people everywhere, no matter the response or the cost, to turn to Jesus the Savior lest they be swept away by their disobedience.
I seem to be an information packrat. I collect articles, columns and various notes, and hang onto them for years for future reference, not knowing when or how I might use them. Recently I came across a column from 2005 that appeared in the respected business journal, Forbes. Entitled “Five Marks of a Great Leader,” it was written by Paul Johnson, a British historian and author. He asked, “What makes a real leader? How can we recognize one?” Johnson offered the view that among the qualities great leaders possess, they must include:
* Moral courage: “The willingness to stick to one’s beliefs, to pursue a course of action in the face of overwhelming criticism, great adversity and…the faintheartedness of friends and allies.”
* Judgment: “Courage without judgment is pointless and may be dangerous. When I need advice…I turn to someone who has knocked about the world and cheerfully survived ‘the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.’”
* A sense of priority: “Sorting out the truly big from the small takes an innate horse sense that’s not given to most human beings…it is nearly always the hallmark of a great leader.”
* Disposal and concentration of effort: “Leaders must allocate their time and energy.”
* Humor: “A subordinate always serves more zealously and obeys more faithfully a leader who can joke, and the public…warms to a potentate who can make them laugh.”
*Reading the Bible, we find these traits also emphasized there. Here are examples of what it says:
Moral courage. When Joshua assumed leadership of the Israelites from Moses, God emphasized the need for courage. “Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. Be strong and very courageous…” (Joshua 1:6-9, 18).
Judgment. Being able to discern right from wrong, good vs. the best, is indispensable for effective leadership. “… that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ” (Philippians 1:9-10).
A sense of priority. Effective leaders never lose sight of what’s most important. “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money…. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:24,33).
Disposal and concentration of effort. How can energy best be expended, making certain to be able to complete critical tasks, and particularly not having to redo work due to unsatisfactory quality or workmanship? “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?…”(Luke 14:28-30).
Humor. One way to maintain a good sense of humor is to avoid having an over-inflated sense of self. “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you” (Romans 12:3).