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.

Leadership and egotism

If people in positions of influence aren't careful, they will lead to satisfy the cravings of their ego.

They crave to feel important. They want to be liked and admired. They suspect that if they can get enough affirmation from others, then that will satisfy the longings deep inside their heart.

That's why they lead. That's why they find it difficult to tell someone, "No, can't do it. Sorry." That's why they silently resent the pressures and demands of leadership but they do it anyway. Leadership, to them, is a drug that promises to satisfy their inner longing for significance. (It rarely does!)

Incidentally, many folks who claim to be followers of Jesus don't cultivate a vibrant relationship with Him. The consequence of this neglect is a deep cavernous hole in their heart that longs to be filled. Thus, the need for ceaseless affirmation, admiration, etc.

A leader does everyone around him/her an incredible favor by pursuing a relationship with Jesus and filling up that 'Grand Canyon' in their heart so that they lead for the right reasons - to develop people and not to satisfy that inner longing.

It is obvious from Jesus' example that He wasn't debilitated by cravings for other's affirmation. In fact, there were times when people were calling for Him to do things that would have brought upon Him more praise. His answer? "Sorry. Can't do it. I've got other areas I need to focus on." (And don't miss the fact that He illustrated for us that inner security comes from developing our relationship with God through a vibrant prayer life.)

Mark 1:35-39 (New Living Translation)

"Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray. Later Simon and the others went out to find him. When they found him, they said, 'Everyone is looking for you.' But Jesus replied, 'We must go on to other towns as well, and I will preach to them, too. That is why I came.' So he traveled throughout the region of Galilee, preaching in the synagogues and casting out demons."

This mindset is a sign of a spiritually mature leader!

Leadership and people-development

A parent doesn't just care for the physical needs of their children. If they are truly influencing (leading) their children, they have a goal in mind. They want their child to grow up to be mature in every way. They want their child to be an incredible tool in the hands of a Mighty God to impact their culture for good. They see their child as one of the next generation's leaders and they parent accordingly.

A boss who is a true leader has the same mindset. When they look at those who are under their authority, they don't see them as simply a bunch of folks hired to get a job done. The see them as men and women who desire to live lives that matter. They crave happiness. They want to be proud of themselves and what they are a part of. So, the competent, caring boss focuses on not only getting the job done - he/she also focuses on helping their workforce achieve many of the things they crave through training, creative encouragement, celebrating victories, etc.

Leadership isn't about simply getting a job done. It's about people-development.

This is the way Jesus saw leadership. As He walked along the shore of the Sea of Galilee one day, He was looking for men to follow His leadership. But, He wasn't going to just order these new recruits around. He promised a trade-off: If they followed Him, He would develop them into men who knew how to call people into a relationship with God and influence others.

Mark 1:16-18 (New Living Translation)

"One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. Jesus called out to them, 'Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!' And they left their nets at once and followed him."

Who do you influence? Do you just order them around or do you see that it is your job to develop them into better people than they are now? Ideally, those under your authority should like what they are becoming while following you.

Remember, life is short. We aren't here just to get mundane tasks accomplished … as important as they may be. It's all about relationships and helping others get fit for here and Heaven.

Leadership isn't for cowards!

As I continue to look at God's Word with leadership lenses, I couldn't help but realize that in the story I read this morning (Matthew 27) where Jesus is falsely accused and sentenced to death, that God placed two leaders side-by-side for a study in contrast.

- Pilate: the cowardly leader

- Jesus: the silent but courageous leader

As Pilate began to question Jesus, knowing this ordeal could end in Jesus' death, Pilate was shocked that Jesus didn't speak against the accusations. Jesus wasn't consumed with self-preservation as Pilate was:

Matthew 27:12-14 (New Living Translation)

"But when the leading priests and the elders made their accusations against him, Jesus remained silent. 'Don't you hear all these charges they are bringing against you?' Pilate demanded. But Jesus made no response to any of the charges, much to the governor's surprise.'"

Two leaders with two very different motivations. Pilate was fully engaged in self-preservation mode. He was going to protect himself at all costs, even if it meant violating his conscience. 

Yet, Jesus remained confident because His highest priority was not self-preservation. He was intent on carrying out the Father's will - doing the right thing. If it meant that He would have great harm brought upon Him as a result, then so be it.

Only the most uninformed would try to excuse Pilate for shirking his leadership responsibilities. The text clearly tells us that Pilate accurately assessed what was taking place. He knew that Jesus had done no wrong:

Matthew 27:18 (New Living Translation)

"(He knew very well that the religious leaders had arrested Jesus out of envy.)"

So, Pilate was the positional leader in this situation. Folks had come to him for his council. He knew that an innocent man stood before him. Yet, since his mind was fully locked into self-preservation mode, he was about to do the cowardly thing, violate his conscience, and send an innocent man to his death. 

Pilate would have reasoned: "Even though he is innocent, it is better for Jesus to die than for me to lose my job and be reprimanded by Rome!"

Rather than use his position of leadership to speak decisively against an injustice, he showed his cowardice and looked for a way out. 

If you'll notice in these next verses, he was shirking his leadership responsibilities. Rather than standing courageous to resist a groundswell of injustice, he continued to entrust the final decision to the people. He was a coward indeed!

Matthew 27:20-24 (New Living Translation)

"Meanwhile, the leading priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas to be released and for Jesus to be put to death. So the governor asked again, 'Which of these two do you want me to release to you?'"

"The crowd shouted back, 'Barabbas!'"

"Pilate responded, 'Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?'"

"They shouted back, 'Crucify him!'"

"'Why?' Pilate demanded. 'What crime has he committed?'"

"But the mob roared even louder, 'Crucify him!'"

"Pilate saw that he wasn’t getting anywhere and that a riot was developing. So he sent for a bowl of water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, 'I am innocent of this man’s blood. The responsibility is yours!'"

Can you believe those last few words! "The responsibility is yours!"? 

Pilate was a coward. He cared more about himself than justice. He cared more about his position of authority than what that position of authority stood for. So, he cowardly shirked his responsibilities and allowed a grave injustice to take place! But, at least he got to keep his job.

So, let's quickly bring this home: what kind of leader are you? As a parent, a boss, a pastor, a student who can influence your peers, etc., are you a leader who is courageous and stands for truth and justice even though it may cause you harm? Or, are you gripped by the motivation of self-preservation that debilitates you and keeps you from doing the right thing?

Refuse to be like cowardly Pilate! Stand for truth and justice! Trust God with the rest.

Leadership and bullies

I was walking on holy ground this morning. As I read through Matthew 26, I was brought into the events that led up to Jesus' arrest and crucifixion. I couldn't help but feel overwhelmed with grief even though I've read this story so many times before.

It seemed amazing to me that only hours before His life would be extinguished, Jesus showed that His focus was not upon Himself but upon others.

His selfless attitude showed up beautifully when He found Himself in a room full of bullies. An unnamed lady came into the room and, because of her profound love for her Messiah, she irreparably broke open a bottle of priceless perfume and anointed Jesus' head with it.

Matthew 26:6-7 (New Living Translation)

"Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had previously had leprosy. While he was eating, a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume and poured it over his head."

But, instead of being praised for this action, this woman was shamed in front of everyone. There seems to be no way to read these guys' comments and come to the conclusion that they were trying to be tactful. Pure and simple, they were being mean bullies!

Matthew 26:8-9 (New Living Translation)

"The disciples were indignant when they saw this. 'What a waste!' they said. 'It could have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor.'"

So, we see that there is a woman who has a great heart who performed a selfless act. What does she get for it? She gets lambasted by self-righteous folks who aren't afraid to ridicule her publicly. As a result, this woman may have started to gather her things and leave in shame.

I wonder if she may have thought: "I only wanted to show Jesus how much His followers adore Him. I wanted to offer Him a gift worthy of Him and His own followers scorned me for it. Rather than put Jesus into an awkward situation where He has to pick sides, I'll just leave and try to pretend this never happened."

This whole thing wasn't right! If the story had ended at this point, it would have been sad indeed. 

But, Jesus being the incredible leader (person of influence) that He was, could not let this story end here. This woman was hurt by the comments. The bullies needed to be chastised.

So, He did what good leaders do … they step in so that things can be made right. They take advantage of teaching moments. They stand up for those who cannot stand for themselves. And, because they care for others (even bullies), they correct them so that they won't do it again.

Matthew 26:10-13 (New Living Translation)

"But Jesus, aware of this, replied, “Why criticize this woman for doing such a good thing to me? You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me. She has poured this perfume on me to prepare my body for burial. I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered and discussed.'"

A true leader isn't going to remain silent when someone is being bullied. Whether you are a co-worker, a parent, a student or whomever, if you see someone being mistreated, you need to prayerfully think about how God would have to step in and be a leader to make things right.

Leadership and starting new projects

One lesson a leader must learn if he/she is to lead a successful organization is this: When a new program is set to begin: 1) the leader must see to it that everyone understands how things should happen, 2) adequate training should take place, and 3) complete compliance from the team is expected.

(Remember, a leader is anyone who is able to influence other people's thinking or behavior. It can be a boss, a pastor, a parent, a student, etc. If you are able to affect other's behavior when you speak, you're a leader!)

Throughout the life cycle of a leader, he/she will determine (maybe in conjunction with a team) that a new project/ministry needs to be started. If that project is to have any chance of success, there will be no room for mavericks. When the competent leader makes it clear what needs to happen, compliance is expected. If someone refuses to comply, then that matter needs to be dealt with decisively.

Why is this so important? Because new projects/ministries are fragile. Any number of possible scenarios could play out and destroy the viability of something that could have been extremely successful. Something that could benefit so many could be quickly destroyed by one person!

So, to protect the new program, the leader needs to make sure that everyone understands what is expected, everyone is trained and complete compliance is the only option.

This principle is illustrated in a story I read this morning. God had been very clear in regard to how worship among the Israelites was to take place. The instruction manual is provided in great detail in the first 5 books of the Bible. So, when Aaron's sons (who were probably drunk! - Leviticus 10:8-9) went against the clear instruction of the Lord, God took them out.

Leviticus 10:1-2 (New Living Translation)

"Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu put coals of fire in their incense burners and sprinkled incense over them. In this way, they disobeyed the Lord by burning before him the wrong kind of fire, different than he had commanded. So fire blazed forth from the Lord's presence and burned them up, and they died there before the Lord."

If you are a leader, don't try the "blazing fire" thing! If someone is undermining a new project, you may need to sit down with those under your influence to find out why. Maybe you weren't clear in your expectations. Maybe proper training didn't take place. But, if you simply have someone who refuses to comply, you may need to find a replacement.

Leadership: To tell or not to tell

A problem that people of influence (leaders) struggle with is this: "How much should I share with those under my authority?"

Should the owner of a company tell his or her employees about every negative possibility that could come as a result of the business decision that was recently made?
Should a child who is overseeing the medical care of a dying parent tell the parent that Hospice has said their death is imminent?
Should a parent tell a child that daddy lost his job, they will lose their house, they don't know where they are going to live or how they will have enough money to buy food?

It seems to me that the answer to questions like these are best answered when another question is asked first:
"Can those I share troubling news with do anything about it? Will they have the ability to prepare for or thwart the possible tragedy?"

If the answer to those questions are "No," then it seems to me that the information might need to remain private.
If the answer is "Yes," then it probably needs to be shared.

As I read this morning in Matthew 24, I was able to listen in as Jesus warned His disciples, and those who would read his words later (us!), that the end of days would be horrible. He spoke of it in terms that were very troubling.

As I was reading, I couldn't help but ask myself, "Why would Jesus share this doomsday information? If the folks who were listening couldn't do anything about it, wouldn't it have been cruel to tell them?"

Well, embedded in the text, we see that there was something that Jesus' listeners could do. They couldn't keep the tragedy from coming. But, knowing that it was coming, they could prepare themselves just like someone who races to the store to stock up on necessary items before a massive storm hits.

"But the one who endures to the end will be saved." (Matthew 24:13)
"So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming." (Matthew 24:42)
"You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected." (Matthew 24:44)

Jesus spoke at length about the troubles ahead because He knew that it could motivate His followers to mentally prepare for the tough times and commit beforehand to be a faithful follower. This information was valuable because it enabled His followers to realize that life wouldn't always be easy. They needed to buckle up and get ready for the ride.

So, as you lead others, keep this general principle in mind: "If you see potential trouble on the horizon and those under your influence could benefit from knowing that information, then you may need to tell them. If they can't do anything about it, it may be best to keep it to yourself."