What a leader looks for in a friend

DAILY BIBLE READING:

Job 34:1–36:33 
2 Corinthians 4:1-12 
Psalm 44:1-8 
Proverbs 22:10-12

TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Proverbs 22:11 (NLT) "Whoever loves a pure heart and gracious speech will have the king as a friend."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

As Solomon wrote down the proverb that would become our Verse for the Day, he would have taken it very personal. The other proverbs were true and helpful but this one hit close to home. You see, Solomon was a king.

Proverbs 22:11 (NLT) "Whoever loves a pure heart and gracious speech will have the king as a friend."

As a king (or a leader of any type), Solomon knew of the intense strain that rested upon him almost constantly:

• The pressures of decision-making knowing that people would be affected either positively or negatively by those choices.
• The pressures that never stop. There was never a time when he was "off the clock." 
• The pressures of being responsible for those in positions of authority under his own authority. Their competency (or lack therefore) reflects back on him and would require him to resolve the problem if they weren't doing their job well.
• On and on we could could go about the pressures of leadership.

But, Solomon was addressing something very person in our Verse for Today. He knew that leadership can also be incredibly lonely.

• The higher you climb, the more some people want to knock you down. It makes them feel powerful. So, you begin to question a little more frequently who you can trust.
• The higher you climb, the more you are surrounded by folks who are ambitiously seeking their own interests and not the interests of the organization and the people within it. Therefore, they are incapable of being trusted or entrusted with authority.
• The higher your climb, the greater the chance that you will have to correct someone or remove them from positions of authority for indiscretions or incompetencies. In my experience, they rarely take that well. At that point, anything you have shared with them in private becomes ammunition to use against you.
• It has also been my experience that many who profess to be Jesus-followers readily embrace God's forgiveness of their own sins while harboring resentment and anger and unforgiveness for a leader and his (supposed) offenses against them (see Matthew 18:23-35). 
• Again, I could go on and on regarding why leaders struggle to have friendships and know who they can trust.

Solomon would have felt this. He would have longed for friendships and relationships that he could trust. 

Well, who could he trust? As a king and leader, what kind of people would he have enjoyed being around him so that he could satisfy his heart's longing for relationship?

Proverbs 22:11 (NLT) "Whoever loves a pure heart and gracious speech will have the king as a friend."

He wanted people with "a pure heart." They weren't duplicitous. They wouldn't say one thing to him and then something quite different to folks out in the parking lot. They were people of integrity who he could trust because their heart and motives were pure.

He wanted people with "gracious speech." That means that they were known for being kind in what they said. Because leaders know that if you talk badly about someone else in the leader's presence, then you'll probably talk badly about the leader in someone else's presence.

So, if you're a leader, this verse provides the qualifications of people that you will want to surround yourself with.

If you aren't in a position of leadership and want to be a blessing to those who are, ask God to give you these qualities in abundance. Leaders are looking for people with pure hearts and gracious speech.

Simon Sinek on Leadership

This video provides some very powerful, and thought-provoking, insights into leadership.

How Jesus-followers exert influence

DAILY BIBLE READING:

1 Samuel 12:1–13:23 
John 7:1-30 
Psalm 108:1-13 
Proverbs 15:4

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

1 Samuel 12:23 "As for me, I vow that I will not sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you. I will teach you the good and right way." 

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

The prophet Samuel was a major character in the Old Testament Jewish story. In fact, there may have been none larger than him between Moses and King David.

But, all good things must come to an end. In 1 Samuel 23, the great prophet was giving his farewell to Israel with some instructions and a warning or two.

As he was bringing his speech to a close, he made the people a promise: that he would continually pray for them and would, as long as the Lord was willing, continue to teach them how to live and think in a way that pleased the Lord.

These two activities (prayer & instruction) are the primary tools that any Jesus-following influencer uses to this day. 

Do you want to influence your children? Pray for them and instruct them in God's Word.

Do you want to influence those in your Bible study class? Pray for them and instruct them in God's Word.

Do you want to influence someone in your workplace who needs to grow in their walk with Jesus? Pray for them and instruct them in God's Word.

These are the tools we have been given to influence others. These are the primary tools by which we will make disciples (Matthew 28:18-20). We pray and instruct from God's Word.

So, get to it. Spend time in prayer for others today. And then look for ways to share God's truth in love (Ephesians 4:15) with others.

One reason leadership is so important

DAILY BIBLE READING:

Judges 21:1–Ruth 1:22 
John 4:4-42 
Psalm 105:1-15 
Proverbs 14:25

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Judges 21:25 "In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did whatever seemed right to him."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Our Verse to Today is an important one in the book of Judges. In three other places in this biblical book (17:6; 18:1; 19:1), it says that there were no king. In one of those references (17:6), it says, word-for-word, the same thing as today's verse.

So, the Lord through the writer of Judges wants us to realize that there was no king in Israel and the people, therefore, made up their own rules and did as they pleased.

There is a powerful principle here. We come to realize that leadership is what God has ordained to set the tone for those under their influence. The leaders, by their words and actions, make it clear what is right and wrong. Absent of leadership, people make up their own rules and oftentimes it doesn't go well.

So, what actions must we take as a result of reflecting on this verse? Let me provide two:

1) Pray for your leaders.
Whether it is a national leader, our local officials, your pastor, your parent(s), your boss, or whoever else it might be, pray for them (1 Timothy 2:1-2). Pray that they would live and lead righteously.

2) Follow your leaders.
Believing that those in positions of leadership are set there by God, we follow them (Romans 13:1-7). Those in spiritual authority are ultimately responsible for your eternal well-being so obey and submit to them (Hebrews 13:7).

Leadership (as it was intended by God) is what the Lord uses to create an environment that is healthy, moral, and productive for those under their influence. So, pray for them and follow them.

Something every young pastor should do...

When I moved to Florida in 2006, I began to feel a little overwhelmed with ministry. I've learned since then that such feelings are good if they drive us to our knees and keep us aware of our utter dependence upon God.

I also realized that there were fellow pastors within driving distance who God had blessed with incredible ministries. While the size of their congregations was much larger than the church I pastored, I suspected that they had a lot of insight that I could use and in doing so bless the church I pastored. So, over the course of a few years, I set up a lunch meeting with each of the following pastors. I showed up prepared to enjoy the company and food but with a greater desire to learn from their experience. (If I remember correctly, most of them paid for the lunches even though the initial deal was that I would take care of it.)

Ken Whitten
Idlewild Baptist Church, Lutz, Florida

The first pastor I met with was Ken Whitten. He is the pastor of Idlewild Baptist Church in Lutz, Florida. I had attended his church a couple of times with my family when on a "stay-cation." It felt so much like Bellevue Baptist Church where I had attended when in seminary in Memphis. I was not surprised when I heard that Pastor Ken had been on staff at Bellevue many years ago.

As we talked over lunch, we reminisced about our days at Bellevue (even though our times at Bellevue did not coincide) and our deep respect for Dr. Adrian Rogers. We talked about vision and leadership and some other pastoral/leadership competencies. But, what I really took away from my time with him was that a pastor needs to love his people, he needs to love the Lord, he needs to be passionate about the Gospel, and he needs to be excited about the future.

Will Rice
Calvary Baptist Church, Clearwater, Florida

Another pastor that I took out to lunch was Willy Rice. He is the pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Clearwater, Florida. The large church campus, the activity of a Christian school and a future sports complex testified to the fact that Pastor Willy was a leader. He didn't just preach - he led.

As we talked, I shared with him some of the struggles I was facing in ministry. I could tell that his mind was wired for visionary leadership. What I took away was that Pastor Willy was a man with a heart afire for reaching people for Jesus. And he knew that there wasn't much time left. He believed that people where capable of doing much more than they thought they were, especially when they cooperated together under caring, competent leadership. He was more than honored to be the man to step up and point the direction that God was leading.

Jim Henry
First Baptist Church, Orlando, Florida

Another pastor that I had the privilege of spending a few hours with was Jim Henry. He is the former Senior Pastor of the First Baptist Church in Orlando, Florida. I was invited with 5 other pastors to sit with Pastor Jim for about 3-4 hours. For those hours, we got to listen to him share some of what he had learned in his years of being a pastor.

While I filed my notes away (and can't find them!), I had quite a few take-aways from my time with Pastor Jim. He noted that if a congregation doesn't feel that their pastor loves them, he has greatly undermined what he will be able to do as their  leader and preacher. He pointed out that a church never gets too big for a pastor to care for his people and he gave very specific way that he tried to maintain a caring pastoral role for a church that had thousands attend on Sunday mornings. He noted that a good sense of humor is vital and a pastor has got to spend time with God before he can spend time with God's people.

Jay Dennis
First Baptist Church at the Mall, Lakeland, Florida

Finally, the pastor to whom I will be indebted the rest of my life is Jay Dennis. He is the pastor of the First Baptist Church at the Mall in Lakeland, Florida. I was going through a particularly difficult time in my ministry when I called upon him. He gave me an hour and a half out of his incredibly busy schedule to listen and provide counsel. His encouraging, insightful words kept my head above water as circumstances were threatening to sink me. But, he didn't limit his encouragement to our lunch. He continued to text and e-mail words of encouragement to me long after our meeting. When my family showed up to worship on another "stay-cation," he gave me a huge hug and continued to speak words of encouragement and affirmation.

From Pastor Jay, I learned that to bring about lasting change, you've got to love the people you lead. You've got to be intentional about your care for them as you preach and as you meet with them one-on-one. That sounds easy enough but it is extremely difficult. Some pastors have warm personalities in the pulpit but aren't 'people persons' one-on-one. There are others who are very comfortable with people one-on-one but who are not warm in the pulpit. Pastor Jay is able to do both. That's why his congregation follows his ambitious leadership and continues to love him.

I wouldn't give anything for my time with these men! While it lacked some the benefits of a long-term mentor relationship, it provided for times to learn from these men and to see how they got to a place where God was using them in unbelievable ways.

If you are a pastor, especially if you are just getting started, contact other pastors that you respect that are 'farther up the road' than you are in ministry. Ask to take them out to lunch and show up with a list of questions where the answers will help you in ministry. Ask them ... and then sit back, listen, enjoy and bless your church by being a better pastor.

God gives us the leaders we deserve

Oftentimes, folks may not like the governmental leaders who are over them. Yet, that only brings out a biblical truth - God is the one who installs the leaders. Sure, our nation is one where we get to vote on who our leaders will be. But ultimately, God is working out His plan and determines who the leaders will be. And, God often gives a nation the leaders they deserve, not necessarily who they want.

Romans 13:1 "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God." 

So, this truth tells me at least one thing: If we are discontented with our current leadership and the trajectory of our nation, there is more involved than simply letting our voice be heard at the ballot box. It also requires a change of heart. Because, based upon our nation's moral atmosphere and relationship with the God of all Creation, God will give us exactly who we deserve.

There are certainly more than a few who are discontented with our nation's leadership and the direction our nation is heading. But, there remains other questions: What are you doing to change our nation's heart? Are you sharing the Gospel? Are you returning good for evil? Are you being salt and light in your communities? Are you praying for your nation and her leaders?

If not, don't worry about the leadership. God will take care of that. We'll get exactly who we deserve.

Praying for a President we may not like or agree with...

When I was in a college, I owned an old '82 Datsun 200SX. Initially, I loved the car but then it developed some problems. I took it to the mechanic and they told me that the problem was electrical. For them to identify and fix the problem would cost more than the car was worth. So, instead of getting it fixed, I worked with it. Many mornings, I would get into the car with a full day's schedule ahead of me, put the key in the ignition ... and nothing happened. I turned the key again ... and the engine made a noise. In my mind (sometimes with my mouth), I encouraged the engine: "C'mon. You can do this! You're doing good. C'mon, let's get this day going. There you go. Ok, you can do this."

Maybe you aren't a fan of our current President. I am not. But, I realize that the Bible I read and strive to abide by tells me that I should pray for him regularly (1 Timothy 2:1-4). I must also realize that his fate is tide to my own. I may not like the bus driver who is transporting me from one location to another but I may find myself praying that he would get me there safely. His fate is tied to my own.

For this and many more reasons, we need to lift up our President in prayer right now. On the anniversary of 9/11, our President has authorized airstrikes on an enemy that needs to be annihilated. Yet, in doing so, we may bring much harm upon ourselves. These are days when true leadership is needed. Regardless of what we think of him, we must pray that God would lead him to make right decisions in these dark days … and then follow through on those right decisions.

Leadership and mentoring

Every single society that has ever existed was only one generation away from complete collapse.

Thus, the absolute necessity for one generation to mentor the next!

One fact is guaranteed - neither you nor I will live on this planet forever. Sooner or later, we're going to die. Unless Jesus comes back very soon, life will carry on. Whether or not life is better or worse after we die, to a great extent, depends upon our diligence in equipping the next generation.

In my Bible reading this morning, Moses died. His time as Israel's leader and God's spokesman had come to an end. But, the nation of Israel continued. So, if there was any hope of success for the next generation, Moses would have been wise to mentor someone who could take over after his demise. He did!

Deuteronomy 31:7-8 (New Living Translation)

"Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, 'Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land that the LORD has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall put them in possession of it. It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.'"

You cannot help but notice as you read Exodus, Numbers & Deuteronomy that Moses spent much time with Joshua. Not only did he publicly affirm him … he also spent years teaching and mentoring him.

This is the reason why God was able to use Joshua after Moses' death. This is the reason why it was said of Joshua:

Deuteronomy 34:9 (New Living Translation)

"And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him. So the people of Israel obeyed him and did as the LORD had commanded Moses."

Who are you mentoring?

If you are a parent, the answer is clear. You have the next generation in your house. Ask God to give you the wisdom to train them so that He could use them for incredible purposes.

If you are a teacher in the public school system, a Sunday School teacher, etc., your job isn't simply to do information download sessions. It's to equip the next generation. You are helping to increase the odds that the next generation will carry on after our generation has gone.

If you are a boss, your job is often ultimately to work yourself out of a job. If the people who work for you are growing more dependent upon you, you aren't mentoring. Ideally, you are training your employees so that they are able to continue doing their tasks if you were to miss a day or leave the company.

If you have been married for many years, you may want to "adopt" a younger married couple. You've learned a lot of lessons about marriage that the younger generation may have to learn the hard way unless you take the time to mentor them.

Ultimately, as followers of Jesus, we are to strive to be like Him. That means that we will intentionally mentor the next generation who will carry on after we depart. Remember, He chose 12 men. He mentored them for 3 years so that they could take over when He left the scene.

Strive to be like Jesus.

Leaders in the hot-seat

In my Bible reading this morning, I read Mark 12. This is a chapter that, if you allow yourself to get caught up in the story, will elevate your blood pressure! If we had been Jesus' disciples on this particular day, we would have watched these scenes play out with great anticipation ... wondering how it would all end.

It began when Jesus told a parable in Mark 12:1-12. Folks loved stories and Jesus didn't disappoint them. Yet, it seemed quite often that the moral of the stories typically came at the very end and it came like a sucker punch to the gut (of the Pharisees!). The story Jesus told on this occasion got the Pharisees so riled up that they wanted Him arrested and shut up.

Well, Jesus being the leader that He was didn't cower when things got a little testy. His group of disciples needed to see that when times got tough, they needed to step up and stand for truth regardless of the consequences.

However, the tension would greatly escalate in this chapter. Why? Because Jesus' enemies were trying to trip him up public. They would confront Jesus with a virtual "no-win scenario" and put Him in that hot seat when many people were watching.

In Mark 12:13-17, someone asked Him whether it was right to pay taxes to Caesar. As Jesus looked around, He may have seen fire in the eyes of the Jews who despised paying those taxes. He may have also seen the watchful eyes of Roman soldiers waiting to see if He was a revolutionary that needed to be arrested. Talk about tension! His answer was incredible!

In Mark 12:18-27, some folks who believed that this life was all that there is and did not believe in the afterlife posed a ridiculous scenario. Their scenario was so silly that is was laughable ... but it posed a serious question that needed to be answered. Jesus may have seen folks watching Him in anticipation. Would He be able to give a reasonable answer that would satisfy and silence these men? He did!

In Mark 12:28-34, a man asked Jesus what the greatest commandment was. This may not seem like a tough question but it may have been the one that created the most tension. The Roman soldiers weren't interested in this matter. The silliness of the Sadducees was over. This question would have fascinated every Jew present. There were hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of laws. There were the laws that God gave in His Word and there were the laws that had been added through the years by the religious leaders. And, everyone present would have their own opinion regarding which law was the most important. No matter what Jesus said, His answer would split the crowd and He would have some that would heartily disagree with Him ... or so they thought. Jesus answered beautifully and everyone was amazed!

Wouldn't it be nice if in leadership situations (parenting, pastoring, leading a company, teaching a classroom of students, positively influencing a friend, etc.) we could make all of our decisions in the comfortable confines of a safe place? Wouldn't it be great if we could retreat to our office or bedroom or a quiet walk in the neighborhood to reflect on the options before making our decisions?

Well, that just isn't going to happen much of the time. Being a leader will mean that there are times when you will have to think on your feet. You'll need to have the presence of mind to reflect and weigh options when others are watching you and waiting for your response. You'll need to have wisdom so that the decision you make is sound and right.

For the follower of Jesus, here are some ways that we can grow in our ability to handle these sorts of situations well:

* Spend much time in Bible study (not just reading; I said "study").

* Spend much time in prayer (revealing your dependence upon God).

* Specifically pray for wisdom and believe that God will give it (James 1:5-8).

* Realize that your life experiences are what God is using to equip you (Romans 8:28-29).

* Always be in a state of trusting in the Lord; He will guide you (Luke 12:11-12).

A Jesus-follower leads by serving

To be honest, virtually everyone in a position of authority finds some satisfaction in knowing that when they speak, folks listen and respond.

That desire can be good and healthy. Maybe the leader finds great pleasure in being an integral part in creating and sustaining a well-oiled machine. Maybe they love knowing that they are responsible for creating and sustaining an environment where folks find great joy in participating because it makes them feel great and they know the cause is worthy.

Yet, that desire could point to a wicked heart. Maybe the leader just likes feeling powerful. Maybe they rest their head on their pillow at night and assess that they are a person of worth because of the way people listen to them and do their bidding. Maybe they even go so far as to believe that their life is worth more than those they lead.

Jesus' disciples exemplified the latter. One day, as they were walking with Jesus to Capernaum, they were behaving just like immature children and "discussing" among themselves who was more important.

Mark 9:33-34 (New Living Translation)

"After they arrived at Capernaum and settled in a house, Jesus asked his disciples, 'What were you discussing out on the road?' But they didn't answer, because they had been arguing about which of them was the greatest."

They weren't ashamed to discuss among themselves who was more important. They were, however, ashamed to discuss it in front of Jesus. They knew that He would expose the sin within their hearts.

So, as a caring leader who saw a teaching moment, He called them to Himself and instructed them on what true leadership is.

Mark 9:35 (New Living Translation)

"He sat down, called the twelve disciples over to him, and said, 'Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else.'"

A leader who follows Jesus will not see themselves as more important than those they lead. They will not make decisions based upon what is good for them and disregard the needs and desires of those who follow.

A leader who is a Jesus-follower will realize that they are a servant-leader. They are in a position of leadership to serve others. They see value in every person they lead. No task is too small for them to roll up their sleeves and get sweaty. They lead by thinking of how they can make the lives of those around them better.

Pastor, are you serving those you lead? How? Be specific?

Teacher, are you serving those you lead?

Boss...

Husband/father...

A true leader serves those that he/she leads.

Secure leaders work themselves out of a job

We've all seen it. A church goes into a tail-spin after its long-time pastor retires or dies. A business struggles with its identity and purpose when its owner retires. A child fails to leave home (or leaves and utterly fails) because they have grown dependent upon their parents.

A secure leader realizes that one thing they must focus on is people-development. They must develop those around them so that the mission can carry on long after the leader has departed.

Jesus provided us with an excellent example. As God's Son who came to redeem the world, He knew that the Gospel was the Good News that humanity needed. We needed to be forgiven of our massive sin debt and be brought into relationship with God. 

Yet, that message needed messengers. So, He poured Himself into 12 men for 3 solid years. He knew that He was going to depart for Heaven 40 days after His resurrection so He equipped 12 guys (minus Judas) to carry on after He left.

We also see this principle in a section of Scripture that I read this morning. It began when God told Moses that his death was imminent. (I'm glad that God isn't so blatantly honest with me! lol)

Numbers 27:12-13 (New Living Translation)

"One day the Lord said to Moses, 'Climb one of the mountains east of the river, and look out over the land I have given the people of Israel. After you have seen it, you will die like your brother, Aaron,'"

When Moses heard this, his immediate reaction wasn't to plead for a longer life. No. Not at all. He wasn't primarily concerned about himself. His reaction reveals his heart for those he led.

Numbers 27:15-17 (New Living Translation)

"Then Moses said to the Lord, 'O Lord, you are the God who gives breath to all creatures. Please appoint a new man as leader for the community. Give them someone who will guide them wherever they go and will lead them into battle, so the community of the Lord will not be like sheep without a shepherd.'"

Ultimately, we read in Scripture that Moses was focused on God's glory. He wanted God to be seen as the incredible God that He truly was. Further, Moses recognized that the perception that others had of God would be directly tied to the people of Israel. If they faltered, the nations would question Israel's God. If they were strong, others would be impressed by Israel's God. (see Numbers 14:13-19).

Simply put, leadership was essential because by it the nation of Israel would thrive and God would be glorified. Good leadership was directly tied to God's glory!

So, the remedy was for Moses to train up a successor.

Numbers 27:18-23 (New Living Translation)

"The Lord replied, 'Take Joshua son of Nun, who has the Spirit in him, and lay your hands on him. Present him to Eleazar the priest before the whole community, and publicly commission him to lead the people. Transfer some of your authority to him so the whole community of Israel will obey him. When direction from the Lord is needed, Joshua will stand before Eleazar the priest, who will use the Urim - one of the sacred lots cast before the Lord - to determine his will. This is how Joshua and the rest of the community of Israel will determine everything they should do.' So Moses did as the Lord commanded. He presented Joshua to Eleazar the priest and the whole community. Moses laid his hands on him and commissioned him to lead the people, just as the Lord had commanded through Moses."

Moses had been working with Joshua. He had been mentoring this young leader. Now, God made it clear that Joshua would take over after Moses' departure. Moses was to immediately confer some of his authority upon this young man as he equipped him to take over after Moses died. 

This is a tell-tell sign of a secure leader: They train up their successors. They equip others who will carry on when they leave. They give them authority and let them begin to spread their leadership wings. They give them room to make mistakes and then help clean up the mess. They help them develop good decision-making skills and help them to make wise decisions. 

This is what good leaders do. Secure leaders work themselves out of a job.

Whether you are a parent who is training up your children, a boss who is training your workforce and preparing for a segue in leadership, a teacher who is equipping your pupils, a pastor who is developing mature Christ-followers, etc., focus on equipping your successor. A leader who genuinely cares about the future will focus on pouring themselves into the next generation of leaders.

Are you working yourself out of a job? If you lead correctly and focus on cultivating those around you, there will come a time when you can step back and simply admire the leaders you have developed. Your heart will fill with joy when you see them competently carrying on without you.

Who are you equipping?

Leadership is validated by its fruit

One television program that I love to watch with my family is on the Food Network. It begins with a restaurant owner who has been experiencing unexplained losses in revenue, declining employee morale, or some other negative phenomena. So, the owner brings in the show's host to plant hidden cameras in the restaurant. As they sit in the private control room and watch the monitors, they are able to determine who and what the problem is.

As I try to develop three leaders of my own, I typically will talk my three boys through the show. One thing I want to make clear to them: The employees who are problematic that are being watched on the hidden cameras typically aren't the ultimate problem. The real problem is often the person sitting in the chair watching the monitors who calls himself/herself the leader!

It is typically because of their poor leadership that the work culture they are spying on exists. They sit in condemnation and with growing contempt for what they created (or at least allowed to grow by their incompetent leadership).

It is certainly not true in every case. That's why this is a 'general' truth.

Some parents do a wonderful job raising their children. Yet, their children leave home and decide to reject most if not all that they were taught.

Some bosses do a fantastic job and yet they end up with a knuckle-headed employee or two.

Some competent pastors have a heart and head to lead their congregations who are content to bicker or simply refuse to follow that leadership.

Yet, the general leadership principle is this: Given enough time, the leader is ultimately the one responsible for the atmosphere of the organization / church / family / etc.

This truth is illustrated in Numbers 16-17. In Numbers 16, the people of Israel complained (yet again!) about their leaders. So, God created a situation in which his approval of Aaron was obvious.

Numbers 17:1-5 (New Living Translation)

"Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Tell the people of Israel to bring you twelve wooden staffs, one from each leader of Israel's ancestral tribes, and inscribe each leader's name on his staff. Inscribe Aaron's name on the staff of the tribe of Levi, for there must be one staff for the leader of each ancestral tribe. Place these staffs in the Tabernacle in front of the Ark containing the tablets of the Covenant, where I meet with you. Buds will sprout on the staff belonging to the man I choose. Then I will finally put an end to the people's murmuring and complaining against you.'"

After the staffs had been left in the Lord's presence all night, we read the following:

Numbers 17:8 (New Living Translation)

"When he went into the Tabernacle of the Covenant the next day, he found that Aaron's staff, representing the tribe of Levi, had sprouted, budded, blossomed, and produced ripe almonds!"

What separated Aaron's staff from the rest? Fruit! Aaron's staff miraculously produced fruit while the other staffs produced nothing at all (which is exactly what we would have expected from a dead staff).

The tell-tell sign of leadership is what we produce (or what God produces through or for us).

Some hear this principle and resent it. They look at who/what they are leading and don't like what they see so they want to outright reject this leadership principle.

Yet, if we embrace this principle, it gives us hope! As leaders, we have the ability to greatly influence the culture of those we lead. So, let's get busy! There's work to do!

Leaders are lightning rods

Leadership isn't for cowards. If you are someone who craves people's affirmation, doesn't like conflict and can't bear to put yourself in a position where you could be attacked, leadership isn't for you.

Why?

Because Jesus-followers who recognize that they are people of influence are also people of the Word. They enjoy digging into their Bibles to develop a mind that sees "right" and "wrong" as God sees it. They come to have a clearer view of what God approves of and what ticks Him off.

As long as we keep that standard to ourselves and try to live accordingly, ridicule may only occur periodically. But, try to influence others and call them to live according to that standard and watch out! Lightning will strike and you will be the lightning rod.

John the Baptist was such a man. He knew God's Word. He understand the moral code that God expected each of us to comply with. He also knew that the governmental leader, Herod, had grossly strayed from that standard. So, John exerted his influence and spoke out against it.

Mark 6:17-18 (New Living Translation)

"For Herod had sent soldiers to arrest and imprison John as a favor to Herodias. She had been his brother Philip's wife, but Herod had married her. John had been telling Herod, 'It is against God's law for you to marry your brother's wife.'"

As expected, when a person of influence speaks up and calls people to conform to the truth, it typically isn't well received. People don't like acknowledging that they are wrong.

So, rather than make the necessary adjustments to conform to truth, the guilty parties attacked the spiritual leader.

Mark 6:22-28 (New Living Translation)

"Then his daughter, also named Herodias, came in and performed a dance that greatly pleased Herod and his guests. 'Ask me for anything you like,' the king said to the girl, 'and I will give it to you.' He even vowed, 'I will give you whatever you ask, up to half my kingdom!'"

"She went out and asked her mother, 'What should I ask for?'"

"Her mother told her, 'Ask for the head of John the Baptist!'"

"So the girl hurried back to the king and told him, 'I want the head of John the Baptist, right now, on a tray!'"

"Then the king deeply regretted what he had said; but because of the vows he had made in front of his guests, he couldn't refuse her. So he immediately sent an executioner to the prison to cut off John's head and bring it to him. The soldier beheaded John in the prison, brought his head on a tray, and gave it to the girl, who took it to her mother."

Leadership isn't for cowards. Standing for what is right may be the very thing that puts you at odds with people who could make your life miserable.

But, while a person of influence doesn’t intentionally go looking for trouble, they will not keep silent to avoid trouble. They love others and they love truth enough to stand up and call people to conform to what is right and true and brings the greatest good.

For the Christian, they find satisfaction in knowing that one day the Lord will make things right. Injustice may take place here and godly leaders may get lambasted for standing for what is right.

But there is coming a day when we will stand before our Master (who was crucified for standing for truth). Regardless of what we've had to endure in this life, it will all seem a distant memory when we hear our incredible Lord say "Well done! Well done!" as He applauds our entrance into His Kingdom.

Stay strong! Get into God's Word and live it! Love others enough to encourage them to comply with it! Be a godly person of influence today!

If You're the Leader, Be the Leader!

Bad things happen when a leader doesn't fully fill his/her role. When a parent fails to lead and lets their young children call the shots, trouble is on the horizon. When a boss allows his/her employees to dictate to them how the business should be run or when a pastor fails to see his role as the leader who points the way, success will more than likely become a thing of the past.

Pure and simple, nature abhors a vacuum. If the leader doesn't fill his/her role as the person of influence, someone else (maybe much less competent) will fill the role. Bad things will soon follow.

In Numbers 13, we read that God told Moses to choose 12 men to spy out the Promised Land. The Israelites would soon be claiming God's promise and they needed information beforehand.

Numbers 13:1-3 (New Living Translation)

"The Lord now said to Moses, 'Send out men to explore the land of Canaan, the land I am giving to the Israelites. Send one leader from each of the twelve ancestral tribes.' So Moses did as the Lord commanded him…"

Numbers 13:17-20 (New Living Translation)

"Moses gave the men these instructions as he sent them out to explore the land: 'Go north through the Negev into the hill country. See what the land is like, and find out whether the people living there are strong or weak, few or many. See what kind of land they live in. Is it good or bad? Do their towns have walls, or are they unprotected like open camps? Is the soil fertile or poor? Are there many trees? Do your best to bring back samples of the crops you see.' (It happened to be the season for harvesting the first ripe grapes.)"

This is a vital step in leadership. Before making a big move, information needs to be gathered. God wanted Moses and the Israelites to know what was ahead of them.

The fact that the Promised Land was more incredible than they imagined would inspire and motivate them to take it. The fact that the people who resided in that land were strong and deeply entrenched would cause the Israelites to depend upon their God for the victory. This would be good information to have!

The problem wasn't that the 12 spies were sent to gather information. The problem arose in how they were allowed to report their findings.

Numbers 13:25-26 (New Living Translation)

"After exploring the land for forty days, the men returned to Moses, Aaron, and the whole community of Israel at Kadesh in the wilderness of Paran. They reported to the whole community what they had seen and showed them the fruit they had taken from the land."

Did you get that? They didn't simply report back to their leader, Moses. They were given the full audience of the people of Israel. Moses probably assumed a lot and assumed these were men who would inspire the Israelites. But, he made a faulty assumption, shirked his leadership responsibilities, and allowed 10 of these 12 men to instill fear and doubt into the Israelites.

(Joshua, Moses' predecessor, learned this lesson. He sent out spies to explore Jericho but he did so secretly [Joshua 2:1]. When they returned, they reported to him and only him first [Joshua 2:23-24].)

This is not a 'power-principle.' It's not intended to inflate a leader's ego. This principle simply acknowledges that nature abhors a vacuum. If you are a person of influence and you shirk your responsibilities of leadership, someone will fill the void. There is no guarantee that the one who temporarily takes your place will be competent, compassionate, humble or have any other desirable leadership traits.

You owe it to those who follow your leadership to be the leader!

Leadership and complaining

We know that the Lord hates sin. It is the cancer that destroyed His perfect creation. It is the poison that continues to cause havoc in our world. It is the cross upon which His Son hung dying. He could not be a loving God if He was indifferent to something that has brought so much destruction.

Yet, have you ever wondered if there are some sins that really (I mean REALLY) get under God's skin?

It would seem in my Bible reading this morning (Numbers 9-11) that there is one sin in particular that really ticks God off. It is the sin of complaining and whining.

Numbers 11:1 (New Living Translation)
"Soon the people began to complain about their hardship, and the Lord heard everything they said. Then the Lord’s anger blazed against them, and he sent a fire to rage among them, and he destroyed some of the people in the outskirts of the camp."

Numbers 11:10 (New Living Translation)
"Moses heard all the families standing in the doorways of their tents whining, and the Lord became extremely angry. Moses was also very aggravated."

It is clear from this chapter (and many others in the Old Testament) that God can't stand complaining and whining.

So, as we recognize that God is the ultimate Leader and that learning from Him can help us become more effective influencers (leaders), let's ask the question: "What is it about complaining and whining that is so bad?" Pure and simple, complaining and whining is the natural result of a people who are showing their disapproval of the leader or the leader's plans.

If I could draw an analogy, it would be like a leader in the driver's seat with his/her hands on the steering wheel and their foot on the gas pedal while driving down the road to a desirable future. However, someone else in the car (the complainer) keeps engaging the emergency brake! It directly undermines anything/everything the leader is doing.

That much is seen in the following verse...

Numbers 11:20 (New Living Translation)

"...For you have rejected the Lord, who is here among you, and you have whined to him, saying, “Why did we ever leave Egypt?"

Complaining and whining, if it is left unaddressed, will undermine anything and everything positive a leader desires to do. It is the cancer that will kill a body. It is the sinkhole that will swallow up a building. A wise leader must address it.

If a leader knows that complaining is a problem among those he/she leads, they would do well to investigate. Maybe there are legitimate problems that the leader needs to address and fix. That is the leader's job. He/she paints the sky that those who follow them fly in. The leader would do well to make sure the sky is as free of hindrances as possible.

Yet, if complaining continues to be a problem, the leader may have to take further measures. A confrontational meeting may be in line. Maybe a replacement will need to be found. A complaining spirit really is a major problem and must be addressed.

Whether you are a pastor, boss, manager, parent or some other person of influence, you must address complaining if it is present.

But ... maybe you are the complainer. Many of us are from time to time. We would all do well to live out the truths of Philippians 4:11-13 (New Living Translation) -

"… for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength."

Leadership and making expectations clear

Have you ever gotten upset at those you lead for not doing something ... that you never asked them to do? We all have.

It is absolutely essential that as we lead others (parents leading their children, bosses leading their employees, pastors leading his congregation, volunteers leading other volunteers, etc.) that we make it clear beforehand what the responsibilities and expectations are. Be very specific and detailed in your explanation.

If we do a good job clarifying our expectations at the beginning, the odds increase greatly that things will go as planned. If we skip that step (or do it poorly), frustration and failure are probably imminent.

As I read through my Bible this morning, I saw this leadership principle clearly illustrated in Number 3-4. Here are some of the headings that were placed over the verses in this section:

"Levites appointed for service"

"Registration of the Levites"

"Redeeming the Firstborn Sons"

"Duties of the Kohathite Clan"

"Duties of the Gershonite Clan"

"Duties of the Merarite Clan"

"Summary of the Registration"

Ordinarily, I may have quickly read through these chapters and thought, "That's boring because it doesn't seem relevant to me."

Yet, when I asked the Holy Spirit to allow me to hear what God was speaking to me in these chapters and then fully engaged my mind in my reading, I saw it! This chapter shows God being the ultimate Leader. He is leaving no room for ambiguity. He is making His expectations clear and is very specific in how things should be done.

This is a necessary component of leadership. If you want the folks you influence to do something with success being the ultimate outcome, then be absolutely clear in your expectations. Be very specific and detailed in how things should happen.

Don't get upset at folks for not doing what you didn't ask them to do.

Leadership isn't a popularity contest

“You can please some of the people some of the time,

all of the people some of the time,

some of the people all of the time,

but you can never please all of the people all of the time.”

- Abraham Lincoln

A person of influence who has a constant need for everyone's affirmation will have nothing but stress and heartache. A parent, pastor, boss, or any other leader who must have the incessant approval of those they influence will undermine so many of their efforts.

Why?

Because there will always be folks who don't like something you are doing or calling them to do. A child doesn't like to hear their parent say, "Clean your room." An employee may have their own ideas of how something should be done and they will disagree with how their boss tells them to do it. On and on we could go. Actions that are necessary but unpopular will simply go undone if the leader lacks courage.

But, if you are a person of influence who is motivated by a love for those you lead and a love for the organization you are a part of, then you must do the right thing even though it may get folks upset.

A parent's primary goal in life isn't to get the approval of their children. It's to develop mature, godly adults who (among other things) know how to clean up after themselves. Craving their approval at all costs will undermine their attempts to reach that goal.

A boss' primary goal in life isn't to get the approval of his/her employees. It's to focus on making his/her employees better people while accomplishing a task necessary for the viability of the business. Craving their approval at all costs will undermine their attempts to reach that goal.

A pastor's primary goal in life isn't to get the approval of his congregation. It's to develop mature followers of Jesus who are getting fit for here and Heaven. He must confront sin and spur others on to holiness and service even though it may not be popular. Craving their approval at all costs will undermine their attempts to reach that goal.

One thing to keep in mind, though: Leaders will not always be right. There will be times when you need to apologize for being wrong or for not listening to the wise counsel of those you lead. There will be times when you need to acknowledge that you didn't lead with compassion and hurt people in the process. Never be too proud to apologize but, at the same time, never be too cowardly to lead even though it may be unpopular.

There was a time when Jesus experienced this very thing. He was confronted with whether or not to do the right thing and heal a man. He knew that if He did, it would get some very influential folks angry. He did it anyway.

Mark 3:1-6 (New Living Translation)

"Jesus went into the synagogue again and noticed a man with a deformed hand. Since it was the Sabbath, Jesus' enemies watched him closely. If he healed the man's hand, they planned to accuse him of working on the Sabbath."

"Jesus said to the man with the deformed hand, 'Come and stand in front of everyone.' Then he turned to his critics and asked, 'Does the law permit good deeds on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing evil? Is this a day to save life or to destroy it?' But they wouldn't answer him."

"He looked around at them angrily and was deeply saddened by their hard hearts. Then he said to the man, 'Hold out your hand.' So the man held out his hand, and it was restored! At once the Pharisees went away and met with the supporters of Herod to plot how to kill Jesus."

Leadership isn't for cowards. I suspect that's why God sends leaders through very trying times. Sometimes, it seems that they have more trials in life than most. Could it be that God needs to toughen up leaders so that they develop the strength of character and courage to lead His people to accomplish great things?

Christian leadership and the company we keep

Yes, our parents were right when they told us to be very careful who we befriended. They warned us that if we mingled with the wrong crowd, we might become like those we spent time with.

The Bible says as much:

Proverbs 13:20 (New Living Translation)
"Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble."

1 Corinthians 5:9 (New Living Translation)
"When I wrote to you before, I told you not to associate with people who indulge in sexual sin."

Yet, while the reference in Proverbs is a general rule and the verse in 1 Corinthians only applies in certain contexts (see 1 Corinthians 5:9-13), a Christian simply cannot and should not completely avoid sinful company. (Remember, doing so would mean we couldn't even associate with ourselves. We are sinners, too.)

Why?

Because we have been called to be salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16)! That means we will be a formidable force for good in our communities and world. As salt, we will strive to hold back moral decay. As light, we will strive to push back moral darkness. 

Essentially, we have been called to influence our culture for good and God's glory (yes, that means we are called to be leaders). And to do that, we must spend time with those we desire to influence.

But, let me tell you something else: It is an unfortunate truth that the first people to condemn you for being in close proximity to "sinners" will be self-righteous, religious folks. Many of them will condemn you even though your intent is to be with the unsaved so you can influence them for good.

The religious folks did it to Jesus. They'll do it to you.

Mark 2:13-17 (New Living Translation)

"Then Jesus went out to the lakeshore again and taught the crowds that were coming to him. As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at his tax collector’s booth. 'Follow me and be my disciple,' Jesus said to him. So Levi got up and followed him."
"Later, Levi invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. (There were many people of this kind among Jesus' followers.) But when the teachers of religious law who were Pharisees saw him eating with tax collectors and other sinners, they asked his disciples, 'Why does he eat with such scum?'"
"When Jesus heard this, he told them, 'Healthy people don't need a doctor - sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.'"

As a Christian who is called to influence your culture for Jesus, you need to surround yourself with godly relationships (not "religious" folks but folks who are genuinely sold out for Jesus). You will need those relationships to encourage you when life gets tough. You'll need those folks to lovingly confront you if you wander into sin.

Yet, you cannot limit yourself to "church folks." If you are to be the person of influence that God has called you to be then you must spend time with "sinners." People will ridicule you but that's just part of being an obedient follower of Jesus. 

Whoever said that it would be easy to be a Jesus-following person of influence … has never actually done it.