Leadership Modeled

Everything was made by God and finds it’s purpose in Him (Jn 1:3, Col 1:16-17).  So, if we’re to please God, we should gain an understanding of how he defines and purposes everything (Ro 12:2).  And more than ever lately I’ve noticed that there’s been a great disparity between how man chooses to define and purpose things compared to how God does.  We’ll look at the subject of leadership in this post. 

I’ve chosen our best example of how to live:  Jesus -God’s Word made flesh. 

I’ll list some examples of how he shepherded as he walked, and continues to, by is living Word. 

But first, to lead means to guide on a way, especially by going in advance, and to direct on a course or in a direction (m-w.com). 

 

1. Make no mistake about it, there is no other way to lead but by example.  The very image of a leader is someone who precedes, someone who is out front.  No effective leader ever took a “Do as I say, not as I do” approach to leadership.  And God bless the fool who would follow such a hypocrite.  A person who has:  a) gone before, and b) been successful, can be trusted to direct another (Jn 1:14; Heb 4:15). 
2. Leadership demands a sincere effort to achieve greatness, to meet the mark (Lk 22:42-44; Heb 12:4; 1Co 9:24-27; Php 3:12). 
3. Leaders must make necessary sacrifices, and with those sacrifices come rewards.  Surely, double honor follows double work [Jn 10:18; 19:30; Mk 16:19; 2Co 5:21; Mt 10:39; 16:25; 1Co 15:55; Rev 1:18; 3:21; 1Ti 5:17]
4. Leaders are held accountable and must understand that the decisions they make have lasting effects.  Everyone has someone or over them that they’re accountable to and someone under them that they’re both accountable for, and yes, accountable to [Lk 2:49; Jn 12:49; 1Co 15:45: Ro 5:12,19].
5. Leadership demands the courage (Mt 8:23-26; 10:28; Lk 22:42).
6. Leaders appropriately delegate authority to subordinates along with the necessary encouragement, instruction, and support in order to reach a defined goal (Mt 4:19; 28:18-20).

 

You may’ve noticed that with the scriptures given, these are instructions intended for all of us, whether or not we have been called into a leadership position in the body, as we’re called to be light of the world and salt of the earth, and by default lead in our own way, for someone (Mt 5:13-16).

 

(Also, I’m positive I didn’t get them all, so go ahead and pull out your own scripture-based examples of Christ-like leadership, and add them in the comments box below.)