I have a very strong personality. Too strong sometimes. It doesn't make me a good leader. And usually when my personality is at it's strongest, my leadership is at it's weakest. Because it's me trying to lead, not leading that way God wants me to lead.
I work in a highly testosterone-rich environment. And lately there has been a lot of mistaking strong personalities for strong leadership. And it's very hard to take. Because let's face it, we expect our leaders to lead us. We look to them to help us grow, in many ways.
I look at Adam sometimes and I think what an awesome leader he is. He's humble, and he loves Jesus. And he makes me a better leader by leading me.
This one scripture keeps coming back to me. It started on Tuesday and God has been ringing it to me over and over in my fat head...
1 Tim 3 1:13 1Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer,[a] he desires a noble task. 2Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. 5(If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?) 6He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 7He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap.
8Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. 9They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. 10They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.
11In the same way, their wivesare to be women worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything.
12A deacon must be the husband of but one wife and must manage his children and his household well. 13Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.
I look at this passage and so much stands out. So much that I need to work on. I think that the most important thing is to be above reproach. That's a word we hear, but do we really know what it means. According to the dictionary:
1: an expression of rebuke or disapproval
2: the act or action of reproach or disapproving
3 a: a cause or occasion of blame, discredit, or disgrace
Why as a leader is this important? For many reasons but as a Christian or a fully devoted follower of Christ, because we are living in a world that has been let down by leaders of churchs. Let's face it, if we want people to follow us to Christ, we better give them a reason, because obviously people aren't thinking about their salvation, we've got too much watered-down gospel. Am I saying that we are supposed to be perfect? Nope. What I am saying is that if you mess up, you better step up and take it like a man (or a woman). Be honest. There is no disgrace in making a mistake because I certainly don't think people expect everyone to be perfect, but I do expect that people expect you to be honest about your mistakes.
As leaders, I think that being a leader also means that you need to think about the 'greater good' not just about yourself. And that comes back to being humble. It means that you put others before you. And if you think about it, isn't that EXACTLY what Jesus did. He put us all first, covered our sins with His blood, His grace and mercy, so that we are saved. Ok, I know I'm not that smart but that just gives me goosebumps and makes me want to get down on my knees and cry.
I'd rather be a strong leader than have a strong personality. I better go pray about this.
Lord, help me be more like You.
Psalm 119:1-8
1 Blessed are they whose ways are blameless,
who walk according to the law of the LORD.
2 Blessed are they who keep his statutes
and seek him with all their heart.
3 They do nothing wrong;
they walk in his ways.
4 You have laid down precepts
that are to be fully obeyed.
5 Oh, that my ways were steadfast
in obeying your decrees!
6 Then I would not be put to shame
when I consider all your commands.
7 I will praise you with an upright heart
as I learn your righteous laws.
8 I will obey your decrees;
do not utterly forsake me.
I work in a highly testosterone-rich environment. And lately there has been a lot of mistaking strong personalities for strong leadership. And it's very hard to take. Because let's face it, we expect our leaders to lead us. We look to them to help us grow, in many ways.
I look at Adam sometimes and I think what an awesome leader he is. He's humble, and he loves Jesus. And he makes me a better leader by leading me.
This one scripture keeps coming back to me. It started on Tuesday and God has been ringing it to me over and over in my fat head...
1 Tim 3 1:13 1Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer,[a] he desires a noble task. 2Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. 5(If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?) 6He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 7He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap.
8Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. 9They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. 10They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.
11In the same way, their wivesare to be women worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything.
12A deacon must be the husband of but one wife and must manage his children and his household well. 13Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.
I look at this passage and so much stands out. So much that I need to work on. I think that the most important thing is to be above reproach. That's a word we hear, but do we really know what it means. According to the dictionary:
1: an expression of rebuke or disapproval
2: the act or action of reproach or disapproving
3 a: a cause or occasion of blame, discredit, or disgrace
Why as a leader is this important? For many reasons but as a Christian or a fully devoted follower of Christ, because we are living in a world that has been let down by leaders of churchs. Let's face it, if we want people to follow us to Christ, we better give them a reason, because obviously people aren't thinking about their salvation, we've got too much watered-down gospel. Am I saying that we are supposed to be perfect? Nope. What I am saying is that if you mess up, you better step up and take it like a man (or a woman). Be honest. There is no disgrace in making a mistake because I certainly don't think people expect everyone to be perfect, but I do expect that people expect you to be honest about your mistakes.
As leaders, I think that being a leader also means that you need to think about the 'greater good' not just about yourself. And that comes back to being humble. It means that you put others before you. And if you think about it, isn't that EXACTLY what Jesus did. He put us all first, covered our sins with His blood, His grace and mercy, so that we are saved. Ok, I know I'm not that smart but that just gives me goosebumps and makes me want to get down on my knees and cry.
I'd rather be a strong leader than have a strong personality. I better go pray about this.
Lord, help me be more like You.
Psalm 119:1-8
1 Blessed are they whose ways are blameless,
who walk according to the law of the LORD.
2 Blessed are they who keep his statutes
and seek him with all their heart.
3 They do nothing wrong;
they walk in his ways.
4 You have laid down precepts
that are to be fully obeyed.
5 Oh, that my ways were steadfast
in obeying your decrees!
6 Then I would not be put to shame
when I consider all your commands.
7 I will praise you with an upright heart
as I learn your righteous laws.
8 I will obey your decrees;
do not utterly forsake me.
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