SEARCHING FOR LEADERS
DECEMBER 1
! Bible Reading: I Samuel 13:1-16 Key Verse: I Samuel 13:14- “But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.”
Key Words: The LORD has sought out a man after his own heart
Real spiritual leaders are in short supply. Constantly people and groups search for them. The question echoes in every corner of the church: Who will lead? The Bible shows us that when God does find a person who is ready to lead, to commit to taking on the responsibility of guiding others, even these men have shortcomings. Think of Moses, Gideon, and David – all great leaders with shortcomings. To be a leader in the church requires strength …surrender and faith. Samuel Brendle, a gifted leader himself, wrote in regard to leadership: yourself to be a “It is not won by promotion, but by many prayers leader in God’s and tears. It is attained by confession of sin, and army. much heart-searching and humbling before God; by self-surrender, a courageous sacrifice of every idol, a bold uncomplaining embrace of the cross, and by eternally looking unto Jesus crucified. It is not gained by seeking great things for ourselves, but like Paul, by counting those things that are gain to us as loss for Christ. This is a great price, but it must be paid by the leader whose power is recognized and felt in heaven, on earth, and in hell.” Today, I challenge you to lay aside your selfish aims and ambitions, and surrender yourself to be a leader in God’s army. What to do: ! Say “yes” to God, and “no” to the world.
Good leaders must first become good servants. -Robert Greenleaf
LEADERSHIP AND RESPECT
DECEMBER 2
!Bible Reading: Genesis 4:1 – 15 Key Verse: Genesis 4:5- “But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.”
Key Words: But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect.
Respect is something most everyone wants and very few get, but I believe the Bible lays down some basic principles by which respect comes. Please note them with me. " First, we must do right (Genesis 4:4, see also Galatians 6:7). " Secondly, we must be right (Genesis 4:5a). " Thirdly, we must act right. (No one will ever respect childish actions from an adult. Genesis 4:5b). " Fourthly, we must live right (Genesis 4:6-7). " Last of all, we must respect others (Genesis 4:8-10).
If you want to be respected, these things must be in place in your life. Every Christian says, “Not my will, but thine be done, O Lord.” But do we mean it? In Christianity it is so vital that each of us be respected. Israel would have never listened to Joshua had they not respected him. The church at Philippi would have never listened to Paul had they not respected him. The house of Cornelius would have never listened to Peter had they not respected him. Today, dear friend, will you commit yourself by God’s grace to work at being respected by others? You may wonder, how do I gain this respect? A man once parked his car on a street. Up came a boy and looked it over. His eyes were wide with admiration of the beautiful car. “Where did you get this car?” he asked. “My brother gave it to me,” replied the man. “My, I wish...” The man knew the boy was wishing that he had a car like that. But the lad went on and finished the sentence, surprisingly. “I wish I could be a brother like yours. I have a crippled brother that I would like to get a car for.” How do you gain respect? Think more of others than you do yourself.
What to do: ! Understand that without respect, no one will follow.
DEMAS
DECEMBER 3
! Bible Reading: Philemon Key Verse: Philemon 24- “Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.” Key Words: Demas
Demas is mentioned three times in the Scripture. We read about Demas in
Philemon. Paul calls him a fellow laborer. We next read of Demas in Colossians 4:14. Here Paul simply says “...and Demas.” He has gone from being a fellowlaborer to being simply Demas. We next read of Demas in II Timothy 4:10 where we read, “For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world.” Demas started well, but failed to end well. Robert Clinton has done extensive research in the area of Biblical leadership. He has determined that there are approximately 300 leaders chronicled in the Bible. In 1990 he studied 100 of the most prominent of them. To his dismay, he discovered that less than one in four of these leaders finished well. Leadership in any arena is difficult, but it is especially rough among spiritual leaders because of the Satanic attacks which accompany the job. The odds of finishing well are clearly against those in ministry, so we must constantly seek spiritual empowerment and protection from God. Each person in the ministry should read and heed this devotional. Each church member and believer should pray for those in spiritual leadership. While we should pray for our political leaders, we must understand that Satan’s attack is just as powerful and even more so on those in positions of spiritual leadership.
What to do: ! As leaders, make sure you are always following God.
QUALITIES OF A LEADER DECEMBER 4 ! Bible Reading: John 1:43-51 Key Verse: John 1:43- “The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.”
Key Words: Follow me
When Jesus selected leaders he ignored the popular ideas of popularity and wealth, and selected a motley group who had no influence, and this group was to “change the world.”
Jesus chose from the ranks of workers, not from professional personnel. Hudson Taylor did the same and most of the religious world said he would never be successful. Brother, were they wrong!! R. E. Thompson suggests that leaders have the following character traits in regard to people. " People’s failures do not annoy them but challenge them. " Leaders do not “use” people but cultivate people. " Leaders spend more time developing people than directing people. " Leaders spend more time encouraging rather than criticizing. " Leaders see people problems as a challenge, not a “problem.”
Jesus took twelve ordinary, uneducated men who knew nothing of building people and taught them, and they went forward, and changed the world. Today our job is not to condemn others, but to help restore and challenge others. That’s what leaders do!
What to do: ! ! ! !
Father, lead your family to Godliness. CEO, lead your business to Godliness. Pastor, lead your church to Godliness. Politician, lead our country to Godliness.
LEADING THROUGH MENTORING
DECEMBER 5
!Bible Reading: Matthew 28 Key Verse: Matthew 28:20- “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
Key Words: teaching them
In Matthew 28:19-20 we read, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” There is no way a genuine believer can misunderstand this portion of Scripture. Evangelize - baptize - disciple! We win people to Christ by telling them the Good News of the Gospel; then we baptize them as converts; and then we teach them. None of us are exempt from carrying out any part of this Great Commission. Just as soul-winning is not a choice,
neither is discipleship a choice. Whether we are parents, pastors, youth leaders, Sunday School teachers, Christian school educators, or lay people, we all have the command to disciple. John Milton Gregory says, “True teaching is not that which gives out knowledge, but that which stimulates pupils to gain it. One might say that he who teaches best teaches least; or that he teaches best those pupils who learn most without being taught directly. Two meanings of the word teach are involved: one, simply telling; the other, creating the conditions for real learning.” Dennis H. Dirks states, “God has chosen teachers to be the instrument for promoting change.” Who are you The root meaning of the word educate means “to be drawn out”, rather than filled with facts. It may be mentoring? compared with the role of a nurse assisting in the birth of a baby. The nurse does not merely tell the mother all she needs to know about the birth process, but the nurse helps make the birth possible. This is the word for teaching, to draw out what’s already there. This is also called mentoring or discipling. God called and has commanded us as believers - all of us - to grow and mentor others. So I close by asking you: Who are you mentoring? Think about it.
What to do: ! Ask God to direct you to others who need mentoring.
LEADING BY EXAMPLE
DECEMBER 6
! Bible Reading: Philippians 3 Key Verse: Philippians 3:17- “Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.”
Key Words: be followers together of me
It was on a Monday morning, January 18, 1982, Major Nonn Lowery led the Thunderbirds, the Air Force’s flying precision team, into a clear desert sky. These Air Force fighters broke from their usual diamond formation to practice flying abreast (side by side). Major Lowery (the leader of the Thunderbirds) was flying the number one jet. At all times the other pilots fly by response to Major Lowery who was known as the boss. Major Dave Robinson (pilot number two) says “the boss is our world, whether we’re right side up or upside down, it makes no difference where the ground is because our eyes are always on the boss.”
It was from this line abreast formation that the team began to execute the line abreast loop. At the top of the loop all four planes were upside down and they began to dive. The boss pulled back on his stick to complete the loop, but a tiny piece of metal had come loose and prevented him from pulling out of the loop. The other pilots kept their eyes focused on the boss as they had been trained to do. The four planes in formation slammed into the earth traveling at 490 mph. The pilots of numbers two, three, and four never had a clue what was happening because their focus was totally on their leader(even though they were in one of the most technologically developed machines known to man). They crashed because they were following their leader just as they should have, which brings me to the point. The responsibility of being a parent, pastor, or teacher is so much bigger than most people can fathom. Being the right kind of leader is so much more important than anything else we can do. We must be keenly aware that our example is not so much taught, as it is caught. That’s one of the reasons that today’s youth are slamming into the world at such a high rate of speed, they are becoming spiritual fatalities because of poor leadership. Parents, staff, Sunday School teachers, deacons, leaders today, someone has their eyes focused on you. You are the boss they are following. The stakes are far too high for us to have a mechanical failure in the cockpits of our homes, churches and schools. We as leaders must take the challenge of edifying through our example. If not, we will lose our next generation of leaders.
What to do: ! A failure to lead right will always lead to failure.
SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT LEADERSHIP DECEMBER 7 ! Bible Reading: Acts 6 Key Verse: Acts 6:3- “Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.”
Key Words: full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom
Leadership doesn’t come overnight. It takes time, integrity, and intestinal fortitude to become a leader. J. Oswald Sanders in his book on leadership says, “The reputation of a great leader grows with the years.” Sanders also says, “When a Christian leader full of
high ideals lives a holy and joyful life in front of unbelievers, they often want to cultivate a similar experience.” Myron Rush identifies tough issues facing every Christian leader in The New Leader. We are wise to ponder them slowly. " You must be willing to stand alone. " You must be willing to go against public opinion in order to promote what you believe. " You must be willing to risk failure. " You must become master of your emotions. " You must strive to remain above reproach. " You must be willing to make decisions others don’t want to make. " You must be willing to say no at times, even when you’d like to say yes. " You must sometimes be willing to sacrifice personal interests for the good of the group. " You must never be content with the average; you must always strive for the best. " People must be more important to you than possessions. " You will have to work harder to keep your life in balance than people do who are not leaders.
Being a leader may not be easy, but it is so very spiritually rewarding to know that God is using you to have an impact in the lives of others.
What to do: ! Pray for your leaders; they need your prayers.
MATURITY AND LEADERSHIP
DECEMBER 8
! Bible Reading: I Timothy 3:1-7 Key Verse: I Timothy 3:6- “Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.”
Key Words: Not a novice
Spiritual maturity is an absolute to good leadership. A novice or new convert should never be pushed into leadership. Just as a plant needs time to develop a good root system so it can bear fruit, so does a young convert. So Paul warns us that those in leadership should not be a novice.
In verse 6 Paul also tells us why we should not thrust a novice into the position of a leader “lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.” A new convert does not yet possess the spiritual stability essential to leading people wisely. The story of the church and its mission is filled with examples of failed leaders who were appointed to lead. A novice suddenly placed in authority over others faces the danger of an inflated ego. Instead, the promising convert should be given a wider opportunity to serve under wise leadership and develop both their natural and spiritual gifts. He should not be advanced too fast, lest he become puffed up; neither should he be repressed, lest he become discouraged. Speaking of experienced leadership, I read the following in regard to Winston Churchill: “During World War II, Winston Churchill was forced to make a painful choice. The British secret service had broken the Nazi code and informed Churchill that the Germans were going to bomb Coventry. He had two alternatives: (1) evacuate the citizens and save hundreds of lives at the expense of indicating to the Germans that the code was broken; or (2) take no action, which would kill hundreds but keep the information flowing and possibly save many more lives. Churchill had to choose and followed the second course.”
What to do: ! Remember, maturity is needed in leadership in order that the tough decisions be the right decisions.
SPIRITUAL LEADERS DECEMBER 9 ! Bible Reading: I Peter 5:1-7 Key Verse: I Peter 5:1- “The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:”
Key Words: The elders which are among you
Peter was a natural leader. What Peter did, seemingly, the other apostles did as well. Where he went, they went. Peter’s influence as a leader was without equal. In our Bible reading we see five qualities of leadership.
First of all, a leader is self-motivated. Notice verse two, “...taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; ....” A leader doesn’t have to be coerced into action, a leader is self-motivated. Secondly, a leader doesn’t lead for money, but for the passion and heart of the project that lies before them. Verse 2b says, “...not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; ....” Thirdly, a good leader is not a dictator but is a motivator: verse 3a, “Neither as being lords “Dear friends, I am over God’s heritage.” the little servant of Fourthly, a leader must be a worthy example for the people: verse 3b, “...but being an illustrious ensamples to the flock.” Master.” And last of all, a leader must be humble: verse 5, “...be clothed with humility....” Speaking of humility and leadership, Hudson Taylor was scheduled to speak at a large Presbyterian church in Melbourne, Australia. The moderator of the service introduced the missionary in eloquent and glowing terms. He told the large congregation all that Taylor had accomplished in China, and then presented him as “our illustrious guest.” Taylor stood quietly for a moment, and then opened his message by saying, “Dear friends, I am the little servant of an illustrious Master.” Amen and amen!
What to do: ! Apply the five qualities of leadership found in today’s devotion.
A GREAT TASK
DECEMBER 10
! Bible Reading: Mark 9:14-29 Key Verse: Mark 9:28- “And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out?”
Key Words: Why could not we cast him out?
Jesus trained His disciples for their future roles. He taught by example and by precept. His teaching was done “on the road.” Jesus did not ask the disciples to sit down and take notes. Jesus’ classroom was on the highways and byways of life. Jesus placed His disciples into roles that required on-the-job training. In our Bible reading we see the disciples unable to help the young lunatic. Jesus did not protect
the disciples from the difficult task of life but He taught them how to handle the task, and told them why they had failed. Jesus was preparing them for their specific task in life. God does that with us. For example, God prepared Adoniram Judson to become a pioneer missionary in Burma by giving him the necessary qualities of graciousness and courage. Professor G. Warneck described Hudson Taylor as a man full of faith and the Holy Ghost, entirely surrendered to God and His calling on his life. God does not send us where He has not prepared us to go. A great statesman made a speech that turned the tide of the nation. “May I ask how long you spent preparing that speech?” an admirer asked. The statesman responded, “All my life.” So it is with God. God is preparing you for some great thing. It may not be great in the eyes of man, but it is in the eyes of God. So I challenge you to be faithful, dear friend. God is preparing some of you to lead. Some will lead a few, others many; but lead you must!!
What to do: ! Don’t begrudge the preparation of God. He’s preparing you for some great task.
STEEL AND VELVET DECEMBER 11 ! Bible Reading: Romans 7:16-25 Key Verse: Romans 7:24- “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?”
Key Words: O wretched man that I am!
One cannot think of leadership without thinking of Paul. On one hand he stood boldly and proclaimed the truth of God's Word; but then, on the other hand he wept over the nation of Israel. Great leaders have a quality about them; they know when to be stern and when to weep. They understand their strengths and their weaknesses. It was on February 12, 1959, the 150th anniversary of the birthday of Abraham Lincoln, the distinguished poet and historian, Carl Sandburg, was invited to Washington, DC, to speak. Before a joint session of Congress and assembled diplomatic corps, the astute, eloquent student of Lincoln held the attention of everyone as he portrayed a very great leader with very human characteristics.
Calling his speech, appropriately, “Man of Steel and Velvet,” Sandburg helped everyone see that a respected leader can be both capable and vulnerable. The mixture may be rare, but when it is there it is truly effective. Not often in the story of mankind does a man arrive on earth who is both steel and velvet, who is as hard as rock and soft as drifting fog, who holds in his heart and mind the paradox of terrible storm and peace unspeakable and perfect. While the war winds howled, he insisted that the Mississippi was one river meant to belong to one country. While the luck of war wavered and broke and came again, as generals failed and campaigns were lost, he held enough forces together to raise new armies and supply them, until generals were found who made war as victorious war had always been made, with terror, frightfulness, destruction...valor and sacrifice past words of man to tell. In the mixed shame and blame of the immense wrongs of two crashing civilizations, often with nothing to say, he said nothing, slept not at all, and on occasions he was seen to weep in a way that made weeping appropriate, decent, and majestic. Leaders are people of both steel and velvet.
What to do: ! Remember: “If you can put your feet on the desk and look out the window and think without an agenda, you may be the office manager, but you’re not the leader.” --Benno Schmidt, Jr. Former President of Yale University
HUMOR AND LEADERSHIP
DECEMBER 12
! Bible Reading: Proverbs 17 Key Verse: Proverbs 17:22- “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.”
Key Words: A merry heart doeth good like a medicine:
A leader who doesn’t have a sense of humor will eventually faint. We must understand that leaders deal with so many issues that they must occasionally laugh or they will cry themselves away.
In his book on leadership, J. Oswald Sanders wrote: “Criticized for including humor in his sermon, Charles Spurgeon, eye twinkling, said: ‘If only you knew how much I hold back, you would commend me.’” Later, writing on the subject, he said: “There are things in these sermons that may produce smiles, but what of them? The preacher is not quite sure about a smile being a sin, and at any rate he thinks it less a crime to cause a momentary laughter than a half-hour of profound slumber.” “Helmut Thielecke wrote: ‘Should we not see that lines of laughter about the eyes are just as much marks of faith as are the lines of care and seriousness? Is it only earnestness that is baptized? Is laughter pagan?... A church is in a bad way when it banishes laughter from the sanctuary and leaves it to the cabaret, the nightclub and the toastmasters.’ “Humor is a great asset and an invaluable lubricant in missionary life. Indeed it is a most serious deficiency if a missionary lacks a sense of humor. A Swede was urged by friends to give up the idea of returning to India as a missionary because it was so hot there. ‘Man,’ he was urged, ‘it is 120 degrees in the shade!’ ‘Vell,’ said the Swede in noble contempt. ‘Ve don’t always have to stay in the shade, do ve?’ “A. E. Norrish, a missionary to India, testified: ‘I have never met leadership without a sense of humor; this ability to stand outside oneself and one’s circumstances, to see things in perspective and laugh. It is a great safety valve! You will never lead others far without the joy of the Lord and its concomitant, a sense of humor.’” So as a leader, don’t be afraid of humor and never forget to laugh, even at yourself.
What to do: ! Remember that the leader’s true worth may sometimes be measured by the amount of time they can remain dead in their office without anyone noticing.
You do not lead by hitting people over the head - that's assault, not leadership. Dwight D. Eisenhower
LEADERSHIP AND BATTLES
DECEMBER 13
! Bible Reading: Joshua 7:1-15 Key Verse: Joshua 7:3- “And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; and make not all the people to labour thither; for they are but few.”
Key Words: And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up
A key for a leader is to know when to go to battle. I have a saying that goes, “Pick and choose your battles carefully, or you will end up losing the war.” As a leader you must understand that God has placed you in a position of leadership, and He allows you to see things others may not see. Let me explain it this way. A pastor I know writes the following: “There are few things worse than living in a city and not knowing your way around. This happened to us when we lived in San Francisco for a few months the latter part of 1957. It is easy to get lost. All the streets on one side of Mission run in one direction – on the diagonal. Then you add those incredible hills and the winding streets and the little tiny signs that should have been repainted years ago, all the buildings, many of which look alike, and the fog and the hills and the fog and the trolleys, and you’re apt to get lost. “My wife and I were with some friends atop the new San Francisco Hilton one year and things changed. The Hilton was over twenty stories. For the first time the layout of that city fell into place for me. I can’t really explain why, but it didn’t until then. Off in this direction was the Golden Gate. Over here was the Bay Bridge. Down here was Fisherman’s Wharf, and then Nob Hill and then Chinatown, and back down south were Day City and points down the peninsula. From that perspective we could see everything at once.” And here is the difference: a leader is able to see things from a different perspective than others. So as a leader when you go to battle make sure it’s a battle you should fight, not simply one you are talked into fighting.
What to do: ! Pick and choose your battles carefully or everyone will think you are out just to pick a fight.
THE ULTIMATE LEADER
DECEMBER 14
! Bible Reading: John 16:1-16 Key Verse: John 16:13- “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”
Key Words: He will guide you into all truth
The real key to safety and success is following the leadership of the Holy Spirit of God. This provides us with the ultimate of security. The author of the following is unknown to me but the article does provide us with a great truth in regard to safety. “When I was in the Marine Corps our ship one time was at the northeastern corner of Formosa (now called Taiwan) near Taipei. We stopped there at the mouth of the harbor and awaited the arrival of the harbor pilot, who came out and took the wheel of the ship and began to weave us through the pathless waters that led to the dock itself. At first glance that seemed like an unnecessary thing to do. We could see the dock less than a mile ahead. But the closer we looked and the longer we looked over the side of the ship into the crystal clear waters, we could tell why. There were mines located randomly beneath the surface of the water. If the hull of our ship had nudged a mine just enough, disaster would have occurred. But the pilot of the harbor knew where every mine was located.” So it is with the Holy Spirit. He knows every danger we face and how to avoid the wiles of the devil. If I could give you any advice, it would be to humble yourself and follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit of God.
What to do: ! Follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit, and you’ll never make a wrong turn.
The very essence of leadership is that you have to have a vision.
-Theodore Hesburgh
LEADERSHIP AND DECISIONS
DECEMBER 15
!Bible Reading: I Corinthians 6:1-12 Key Verse: I Corinthians 6:12- “All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.”
Key Words: I will not be brought under the power of any
As you read God’s Word, you find over and over again people making wrong decisions. Adam and Eve made a wrong decision in eating the forbidden fruit.
Cain made a wrong decision in slaying his brother, Abel. Abraham made a wrong decision when he went into Egypt. He made another
wrong decision in having Sarah lie about who she was. Lot made a wrong decision in going into Sodom and Gomorrah.
Joshua made a wrong decision in going to battle against Ai. Achan made a wrong decision when he stole the silver, gold, and goodly Babylonish garment. David made a wrong decision in not going to battle and committing adultery with Bathsheba. Peter made a wrong decision out of pride, and said he would never deny the Lord; but he did! The list could go on and on! The question is: How can I keep from making wrong decisions that adversely effect, not only me but others as well? There are four Biblical questions that if we answer honestly, can keep us from making wrong decisions. First of all, ask yourself: Will my decision lead me to spiritual freedom or slavery (I Corinthians 6:12)? If all those mentioned above would have simply asked this one question, and answered it honestly, they never would have made their wrong decisions. Secondly, spiritually, will this cause others to stumble (I Corinthians 8:9)? After Peter had denied the Lord three times, he got five of his brethren and went fishing – not soul-winning. Peter’s decision caused others to stumble. Let me ask you, is it possible that by missing church you could cause others to stumble? Does your walk cause others to stumble? Ask yourself: Is it possible this decision will cause others to stumble?
Thirdly, ask yourself: By making this decision, will it build me up spiritually (I Corinthians 10:23)? Did Achan’s stealing, David’s adultery, and Abraham’s lying build them up spiritually in your eyes? Fourthly, ask yourself: If I make this decision, will it bring glory to God (I Corinthians 10:31)? Can I honestly say that not tithing, or lying, or adultery, or stealing, or missing church brings glory to God? So if you ever wonder about what course of action to take, if you ever wonder what the right thing to do is, ask yourself these four questions and answer them honestly, and you’ll know what to do.
What to do: ! Apply the above principles in making decisions.
THE ABILITY TO INSPIRE DECEMBER 16 ! Bible Reading: Nehemiah 6 Key Verse: Nehemiah 6:15- “So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty and two days.”
Key Words: so the wall was finished
The power of inspiring others to serve and sacrifice will mark God’s leaders. Nehemiah had this quality. The people of Jerusalem were disheartened and dispirited when he arrived. In no time he unified them into an effective team of workers. Such was his leadership that we read of in Nehemiah 4:6, “The people had a mind to work.” “In the heyday of the New York Yankees, manager Joe McCarthy once interviewed a coach being brought up to the majors from a Yankee farm team. ‘How much do you know about psychology?’ McCarthy asked. The coach said he had studied it in college. ‘So you think you’re good,’ said McCarthy.
The coach replied: ‘I don’t know how good I am, but it’s a subject I’ve studied.’ ‘All right,’ McCarthy said, ‘I’ll give you a test.’ McCarthy said that a few years before he’d had a problem and had gone to Frankie Crosetti, his shortstop, to resolve it. ‘Frank,’ McCarthy said, ‘I’m not satisfied with the way Lou Gehrig is playing first base. He’s too lackadaisical. I want you to help me. From now on, charge every
ground ball. When you get it, fire it as quickly and as hard as you can to first base. Knock Gehrig off the bag if you can. I don’t care if you throw wild or not, but throw it fast and make it tough for him.’ Crosetti demurred and said: ‘Maybe Lou won’t like the idea.’ ‘Who cares what Gehrig likes!’ McCarthy snapped. ‘Just do as I tell you.’
McCarthy then said to the coach: ‘Now that’s the story. What conclusions do you draw from it?’ The coach considered the matter for a minute, then answered: ‘I guess you were trying to wake up Gehrig.’ ‘See?’ McCarthy shrugged his shoulders in resignation. ‘You missed the point entirely. There wasn’t a thing wrong with Gehrig. Crosetti was the one who was sleeping. I wanted to wake up Crosetti.’” I do not recommend deception as a method of motivation, but you get the idea. Leaders have the ability to inspire.
What to do: ! Any child can tear down or tear apart, but leaders motivate and build up.
SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP DECEMBER 17 ! Bible Reading: Acts 6 Key Verse: Acts 6:3- “Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.”
Key Words: full of the Holy Ghost
Spiritual leadership requires Spirit-filled people. Other qualities are important, but to be Spirit-filled is indispensable. The book of Acts is the story of people who established the church and led the missionary movement. We cannot fail to note that even the office of deacon required people be filled with the Holy Spirit. Spiritual leaders should be known for their integrity and judgment, but primarily they should be known for their spirituality. “Madame Chiang Kai-shek once told the story of a young Buddhist monk who sat ouside his temple two thousand years ago, hands clasped in prayer. He looked very pious and he chanted ‘Amita Buddha’ all day. Day after day he intoned these words, believing that he was acquiring grace. One day the head priest of the temple
sat next to him and began rubbing a piece of brick against a stone. Day after day he rubbed one against the other. This went on week after week until the young monk could no longer contain his curiosity, and he finally blurted out, ‘Father, what are you doing?’ ‘I’m trying to make a mirror,’ said the head priest. ‘But that’s impossible!’ said the young monk. ‘You can’t make a mirror from brick.’ ‘True,’ replied the head priest. ‘And it is just as impossible for you to acquire grace by doing nothing except chant ‘Amita Buddha’ all day long.’” I’m afraid today that many leaders in our churches are like the young Buddhist. They have a good chant, but display very little true spirituality. I trust this is not the case in your life.
What to do: ! Spirituality is not simply in what we say, but in what we do.
THE SPIRITUAL LEADER AND PRAYER DECEMBER 18 ! Bible Reading: Luke 5:1-16 Key Verse: Luke 5:16- “And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.” Key Words: and prayed
Jesus would spend full nights in prayer (Luke 6:12). He would often rise before dawn to spend time with the Father in prayer (Mark 1:35). Prayer is a vital part of the leader’s life. Jesus told Peter, James, and John: ‘What, could ye not watch with me one hour?” (Matthew 26:40) Then in verse 41 we read in part, “Watch and pray.” Thomas Lye said, “I would rather stand against the cannons of the wicked than against the prayers of the righteous.” While very ill, John Knox, the founder of the Presbyterian Church in Scotland, called to his wife and said, “Read me that Scripture where I first cast my anchor.” After he listened to the beautiful prayer of Jesus recorded in John 17, he seemed to forget his weakness. He began to pray, interceding earnestly for his fellowmen. He prayed for the ungodly who had thus far rejected the gospel. He pleaded in behalf of people who had been recently converted. And he requested protection for the Lord’s servants, many of whom were facing persecution. As Knox prayed, his spirit went Home to be with the Lord. The man of whom Queen Mary had said, “I fear his
prayers more than I do the armies of my enemies,” ministered through prayer until the moment of his death. As spiritual leaders, I wonder how many of the unrighteous fear our prayers.
What to do: ! Pray as if everything depends on God, and then work as if everything depends on you.
THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP
DECEMBER 19
! Bible Reading: Matthew 10:24-42 Key Verse: Matthew 10:38- “And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.”
Key Words: worthy of me
At the age of 32, Scottish biologist Henry Drummond went on an exploratory venture into Africa. He visited the grave of David Livingstone, he saw missionaries laid low with tropical diseases, and he became ill with a raging fever that lasted for a month. He returned home with a greater depth of character, a profound compassion for the lost, and a new resolve to give himself to the service of his Master. To Drummond, meditating upon the suffering of Jesus Christ and seeing firsthand the sacrifice of those devoted servants helped him become a dedicated leader for Christ. Now, leadership for Christ doesn’t call for an unwise fanaticism that invites persecution or that sees virtue in suffering. But to lead for our Lord, we must have the right priorities. Our motivation comes when we, like Drummond, reflect upon the price Christ paid for our redemption and think about the faithful servants of God who have given themselves unreservedly to His service. In sharp contrast to this and to Jesus’ emphasis upon the high cost of leading for Him, some preachers assure their listeners that living for Christ guarantees health, wealth, and happiness. Then too, thousands who profess faith in Jesus attend church and live decent lives, but they are so conformed to this world that they neither impress nor offend anyone. Think
Let’s never forget that leadership for Christ is costly.
about these questions: If we lived in the first century, would the ungodly be throwing us to the lions? Burning us at the stake? Let’s never forget that leadership for Christ is costly.
What to do: ! Be a spiritual leader, not for self glory but for God’s glory.
THE LEADER AND TIME DECEMBER 20 ! Bible Reading: Psalm 39 Key Verse: Psalm 39:5- “Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.”
Key Words: Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth
The quality of one’s leadership will be in part measured by how we use our time. Certain things may be out of our control, such as work hours, etc.; but it’s the other hours of the day and how we use them that reflect our wisdom with time. Each moment of the day is a gift from God that deserves our care, for our time is short and the work is great. How would you like to spend two years making phone calls to people who aren’t home? Sound absurd? According to one time management study, that’s how much time the average person spends trying Each moment of to return calls to people who never seem to the day is a gift be in. Not only that, we spend six months waiting for the traffic light to turn green, and from God that another eight months reading junk mail. These unusual statistics should cause us to deserves our care… do time-use evaluation. Once we recognize that simple “life maintenance” can chip away at our time in such huge blocks, we will see how vital it is that we don’t busy ourselves “in vain” (Psalm 39:6). Psalm 39 gives us some perspective. In David’s complaint to God, he said, “Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee” (verse 5). He meant that to an eternal God our time on earth is brief. And He doesn’t want us to waste it. When we do, we throw away one of the most
precious commodities He gives us. Each minute is an irretrievable gift – an unredeemable slice of eternity. Sure, we have to make the phone calls, and we must wait at the light; but what about the rest of our time? Are we using it to advance the cause of Christ and to enhance our relationship with Him? Is our time well spent?
What to do: ! Remember, yesterday is a cashed check; tomorrow is a promissory note; today is cash in hand – so use it wisely. I recommend you invest it in God’s service.
THE LEADER AS A READER
DECEMBER 21
! Bible Reading: II Timothy 4:1-13 Key Verse: II Timothy 4:13- “The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments.”
Key Words: and the books
Historians tell us that the books Paul wanted Timothy to bring to him were probably works of Jewish history plus the Old Testament Law and Prophets. Paul was a reader!! During his imprisonment and shortly before his martyrdom in 1536, William Tyndale wrote to the governor-in-chief asking the following: “A warmer cap, a candle, a piece of cloth to patch my leggings. . . . But above all, I beseech and entreat your clemency to be urgent with the Procureur [sic] that he may kindly permit me to have my Hebrew Bible, Hebrew grammar and Hebrew Dictionary, that I may spend time with that in study.” The leader who intends to grow spiritually and intellectually must read. A W. Tozier said, “To enjoy a great religious book requires a degree of consecration to God and detachment from the world that few modern Christians have. The early Christian Fathers, the Mystics, the Puritans, are not hard to understand, but they inhabit the highlands where the air is crisp and rarefied, and none but the Godenamored can come. . . . One reason why people are unable to understand great Christian classics is that they are trying to understand without any intention of obeying them.”
Let me encourage you to enjoy a good book but always begin with the Word of God.
What to do: ! Read – but not garbage. Read God’s Word and biographies and autobiographies of Godly leaders.
IMPROVING LEADERSHIP
DECEMBER 22
! Bible Reading: Romans 12:1-8 Key Verse: Romans 12:8- “Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.”
Key Words: he that ruleth, with diligence
Hudson Taylor, the founder of the China Inland Mission, was a simple but astute man. He had the gift of saying profound things in a simple way. This is certainly a character trait one needs to improve in their leadership. Taylor said that there are six qualities that will help to improve one’s ability to lead. 1. Improve the character of the work (people should know what is expected of them). 2. Work toward making the workers successful. 3. Remove stumbling blocks that keep workers from succeeding. 4. Oil the wheels that stick. Solve problems quickly. 5. Amend whatever is defective. Correct things that are wrong. 6. Be creative, not critical.
I might add one more thing: leadership is always out front. Never lead from the rear or from the sidelines. It was leadership from the rear that led Israel into the wilderness.
What to do: ! Ask yourself and answer honestly: Are you seeking to be a better leader in the home, work, or school?
THE LEADER AND JEALOUSY
DECEMBER 23
! Bible Reading: Numbers 12 Key Verse: Numbers 12:1- “And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman.”
Key Words: Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses
Most leaders at some time face the problem of a jealous rival. Even Moses encountered that test. Jealousy is a common weapon of the devil. Moses’ first such challenge came from within his own family, his sister and brother. They had apparently forgotten that without Moses’ noble decision to lead the people out of Egypt, they and all the rest of Israel would still be living under the slave master’s lash. Miriam by this time was elderly and should have known better. She promoted gossip against Moses because of his marriage to an Ethiopian. Race hatred is not the sin of this century alone. Miriam resented the intrusion of a foreigner and drew the weakling Aaron into her rebellion. Not content with second place, Miriam and Aaron, led by the devil, tried to remove Moses by a coup. They cloaked their treachery in piety, “Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us?” Moses was deeply wounded, but he said nothing to vindicate himself. His main concern was God’s glory, not his own position or privilege. “(Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth)” (Numbers 12:3). Yet though Moses maintained a dignified silence, God would not allow such a challenge to the authority of His servant to go without response. Because the offense was public, judgment and punishment would also be public. “And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow:” the record states (Numbers 12:10). Such a drastic punishment points to the gravity of her sin, and once again Moses’ greatness shines. His only response was to pray for his sister and God graciously responded in mercy. The lesson for the leader is plain. The person who fills a role appointed by God need not worry about vindicating his or her work when rivals become jealous or treacherous. Such a leader is safe in the hands of a heavenly Protector. Indeed, God shows how safe with His ominous words to Miriam: “Wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?” (Numbers 12:8).
God will defend the leaders He has chosen. He will honor, protect, and vindicate them. Leaders need not worry about defending their rights to their office.
What to do: ! Don’t respond to criticism. If the critics are right, admit you’re wrong. If the critics are wrong, keep on serving; but never get into a battle of words. Remember, you’re the leader – so lead – rather than follow the critics’ lead.
SELF-SACRIFICE DECEMBER 24 ! Bible Reading: Galatians 6 Key Verse: Galatians 6:17- “From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.”
Key Words: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.
Self-sacrifice is a part of the cost that must be paid in order to lead. J. Oswald Sanders writes: “A cross stands in the path of spiritual leadership, and the leader must take it up. ‘Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren’ (I John 3:16). To the degree the cross of Christ is across our shoulders and over our backs, so the resurrection life of Christ is manifest through us. No cross, no leadership. Paul declared, ‘I die daily’ (I Corinthians 15:31b). “’And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many’ (Mark 10:44-45). Each of the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11 was called to sacrifice as part of his or her service. Those who lead the church are marked by a willingness to give up personal preferences, to surrender legitimate and natural desires for the sake of God. Bruce Barton quotes a sign at a service station: ‘We Self-sacrifice is a will crawl under your car oftener and get ourselves dirtier than any of our competition.’ part of the cost that That is the kind of service the Christian seeks to give. must be paid in “Samuel Zwemer remarked that the only thing Jesus took pains to show after His order to lead. resurrection were His scars. On the Emmaus road His disciples recognized neither Him nor
His message. Not until Jesus broke the bread and they possibly saw the scars did they know the person for who He was. When Jesus stood among His demoralized band in the upper room after the resurrection, He showed them ‘both His hands and [His] side.’” As Paul well knew for it was Paul who said, “For I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.”
What to do: ! Pray for your spiritual leadership.
MERRY CHRISTMAS DECEMBER 25 ! Bible Reading: II Chronicles 7 Key Verse: II Chronicles 7:14- “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
Key Words: If my people
There is a movement afoot today to have God totally removed from our existence. This is not just the ranting of a Baptist preacher, this is a fact. " God is not allowed in our public schools but evolution is. " Nothing religious or symbolic of God is allowed on government property or in government buildings. " Many department stores have removed Christ from Christmas referring to Christmas as the “holiday season.” The Christmas tree has become in many cases the holiday tree. Christmas songs are referred to as holiday songs. Now for some reason this just doesn’t fit. Can you imagine singing, “Have yourself a merry little holiday” or “I’m dreaming of a white holiday?” " The Bible is not considered a “credible authority” on such subjects as abortion and homosexuality. " Those of us who believe in God and are doers of the Word are called “extreme right wingers” and are considered a threat to society. " In our society Allah, Buddha, Confucius, and others are equal to the true and living God.
Which raises the question why, and how have we deteriorated to such a lowly state of existence?
First of all, Satan is at work. We are told in Ephesians 6:12, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” It is interesting to note that there are three encounters between God and Satan. In the first encounter in Isaiah, Satan wanted to be just like God. In the second encounter in Matthew, Satan wanted God to worship him; and in the third encounter in Revelation Satan wants to destroy God. Each encounter Satan desires more power and authority. Well, we are now living in the last days when Satan wants to see God destroyed, which is one of the reasons we find ourselves in this depraved spiritual condition. Secondly, society is to blame. The lost world sees God as the enemy and standing in their way of living as they choose. Remember, it was the people who yelled “Crucify him, crucify him.” Thirdly, we are to blame. Yes, we are born-again believers but we have failed to stand for God. We in the past were passive about which judges and political leaders were going into office. We were happy so long as we had our house, car, a little pleasure, and our retirement program in place. We went to sleep on the job while the ungodly forces of evil were at work. So now what do we do? 1. Pray (II Chronicles 7:14). 2. Write the heads of department store chains such as Wal-Mart, Sears, Kohl’s, and Target. Tell them to put Christ back in Christmas. 3. Vote for politicians who stand for right. 4. Witness and spread the gospel. 5. Be faithful to God yourself through prayer, witnessing, church attendance, and yes, even financial giving.
We must continue to occupy until the Lord returns!
Merry Christmas! What to do: ! Put Christ first, not just on Christmas, but everyday.
FAILURE
DECEMBER 26
! Bible Reading: Genesis 12 Key Verse: Genesis 12:13- “Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee.”
Key Words: Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister
Can you see Abraham as a failure? He was. He failed when he faced the crisis of a famine in the land. Many people who appear to be at the height of their careers hide a great inner sense of failure. Alexander Maclaren, the great British preacher, delivered a wonderful address to a large crowd, but turned away overwhelmed with failure. “I must not speak on such an occasion again,” he said. Were his expectations too high? Or did the devil bring him grief when he should have felt great joy? How a leader handles failure (or simply feelings of failure) will set much of the agenda for the future. Peter appeared washed up as a leader after his denial of the Christ, but repentance and love reopened the door of opportunity, and Peter’s leadership touched all the rest of Christendom. “Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.” Most Bible characters met with failure, and survived. Even when the failure was immense, those that found leadership again refused to lie in the dust and bemoan their tragedy. In fact, their failure led to a greater conception of God’s grace. They came to know the God of the second chance, and sometimes the third and fourth. The historian James Anthony Froude wrote: “The worth of a man must be measured by his life, not by his failure under a singular and peculiar trial. Peter the apostle, though forewarned, three times denied his Master on the first alarm of danger; yet that Master, who knew his nature in its strength and in its weakness, chose him.” Every leader must understand that just as success is fleeting, no failure is final. So don’t become too high when things are good, nor too low when things aren’t so good. Just keep going. What to do: ! Remember during the good times and the bad – steady she goes!!
THE WRONG EXAMPLE
DECEMBER 27
! Bible Reading: Jude 1 – 9 Key Verse: Jude 7- “Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.”
Key Words: are set forth for an example
Godly leaders are not “control freaks” or manipulators, but are examples of righteousness. We are not to drive God’s people but lead them into righteousness. Eli Black was a brilliant businessman best known for two events in his life. He masterminded the multi-million dollar takeover of the United Fruit conglomerate, and he jumped to his death from the 42nd floor of the Pan Am building in New York City. In the book An American Company, an executive described a business lunch he had with Eli Black. When the waitress brought a plate of cheese and crackers as an appetizer, Black reached out and took them, placed them on the table, blocked them with his arms, and continued talking. The executive hadn’t eaten for hours and hinted that he would like a cracker. But Black acted as though he hadn’t heard him and went on with the business meeting. After a while, Black placed a cracker and cheese on the tips of his fingers and continued to talk. Several moments later, Black placed the cracker on the executive’s plate and then blocked the rest as before. It was clear that Black was in charge, manipulating others as he pleased. When you play “follow the leader,” check to see who is at the head of the line. Eli Black, for all his power, ended up in suicide. Jesus Christ, in all His humility, ended up the Savior of the world. Always remember, believers belong to God, not the human leader; so be a wise, humble steward. What to do: ! Remember, good leaders are not in it for self, but service.
The art of leadership is saying no, not yes. It is very easy to say yes.
-Tony Blair
LEADERSHIP AND DELEGATION
DECEMBER 28
! Bible Reading: Exodus 18:13-26 Key Verse: Exodus 18:18- “Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.”
Key Words: Thou wilt surely wear away
One area of leadership is the ability to realize the abilities and limitations of others and the willingness to delegate to others responsibilities where they have the ability to carry out the task at hand. D. L. Moody once said, “It is far better to put a thousand men to work than it is to do the work of a thousand men.” The degree to which a leader is able to delegate work is a measure of his success. One of the great Biblical illustrations of delegating is found in the life of Jethro and his son-in-law, Moses. Jethro saw that Moses could not keep pace with all that was before him. Jethro made two great arguments for delegating some of the work to others. First, in Exodus 18:18 Jethro says that the work is too heavy for Moses: “Thou wilt surely wear away.” I have noticed in the ministry that those who for whatever reason will not delegate work to others grow weary, not only of the work, but of the call of God upon their lives. Secondly, Jethro observed in verse 23 that delegating to others would speed up the work. Writing about the leader of a large missionary endeavor, a staff member commented: “He had a great gift of leadership in that he never interfered with those under him. He allowed us to do our work and allowed us to learn from our mistakes.” Another staff member wrote: “He knew what people could do and saw that they did it, leaving them to make the best of their opportunities and investigating only if things went wrong.” A good leader will follow up, but not interfere with the work which is delegated.
What to do: ! I always tell them under that a key to leadership follow-up, follow-up, and then follow-up on the work of others; it is not interfere, interfere, and interfere. This is frustrating to others.
REPLACING LEADERS
DECEMBER 29
! Bible Reading: Acts 5:33-42 Key Verse: Acts 5:38- “And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:”
Key Words: if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought
The ultimate test of a person’s leadership is the health of the organization when he is gone. This truth was behind Gamaliel’s counsel to the Pharisees (Acts 5:38-39). A work inspired by God and built on spiritual principles will survive the shock of leadership change and may even prosper as a result. J. Oswald Sanders writes: “We sometimes demean God by assuming that the death of a great leader takes God by surprise, or sends God into emergency action. Though we may feel shock and anxiety, we need not tremble for God is still in control. Christian leadership is different from the worldly sort. God selects and prepares leaders for the kingdom (Mark 10:40). No work of God will be left destitute until its purposes are achieved. “Great movements are often thrown into crisis at the death of a founder. Such crises need not be fatal, however. Lyman Beecher said that he despaired when the first secretary of the American Board of Missions died. Then another leader arose and did so well that Beecher felt despair again when the second secretary died. At last, when the third secretary proved himself competent, Beecher began to feel confident that God’s resources were equal to the task at hand. When Beecher himself was gone, some believed he could not be replaced. But all of Beecher’s causes – temperance, orthodoxy, and foreign missions – found capable new leaders in God’s time and way. Indeed, no man, however gifted and devoted, is indispensable to the work of the kingdom. “God is always at work, though we cannot see it, preparing people He has chosen for leadership. When the crisis comes, God fits His appointee into the place ordained for him. Often such a replacement is not apparent to an organization, but time will reveal him.”
What to do: ! Remember, changes in human leadership should not shake or dismay us.
BASIC RULES OF LEADERSHIP
DECEMBER 30
! Bible Reading: Romans 16:1-16 Key Verse: Romans 16:1- “I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:”
Key Words: I commend unto you Phebe
Paul realized the importance of others and wasn’t afraid to give them the attention and credit due them. Paul also had a love for those under him. A research organization polled five hundred executives, asking them what traits they thought were most important in dealing with others. From the information received, five basic “rules” were formulated. They are: 1. Always give your people the credit that is rightfully theirs. To do otherwise is both morally and ethically dishonest. 2. Be courteous. Have genuine consideration for other people’s feelings, wishes, and situations. 3. Never tamper with the truth. Never rationalize. What you might like to believe is not necessarily the truth. 4. Be concise in your writing and talking, especially when giving instructions to others. 5. Be generous. Remember that it is the productivity of others that makes possible your executive position.
Not bad advice for all of us, but especially for leaders. What to do: ! Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
The final test of a leader is that he leaves behind him in other men the conviction and the will to carry on. -Walter Lippman
THE BAD LEADER
DECEMBER 31
! Bible Reading: I Kings 12:1-19 Key Verse: I Kings 12:11,13- “11 And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions. 13 And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men’s counsel that they gave him;”
Key Words: I will add to your yoke (vs 11) And the king answered the people roughly (vs 13)
Rehoboam wasn’t a leader; he was a tyrant. He was cruel and demeaning. As a result, the people rebelled against Rehoboam. A lesson every leader should learn is that evil breeds rebellion. In the magazine Bits & Pieces they state that there are six character traits of a bad leader. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
Aggressive against people who do not agree with them. Apprehensive that others are scheming against them. Fatalistic in thinking that most workers are not to be trusted. Inflexible: all work must be done as they say, without any deviation. Impulsive: preferring action to thinking. Self-willed: thinks of self before thinking of others or the organization.
It was General Douglas MacArthur who said, “The greatest quality of a leader is selflessness.” Woodrow Wilson said, “I use not only my own brains, but also all that I can borrow.”
What to do: ! Understand that without God, you can do nothing.
I deeply appreciate the help of Laurie Blankenship Trisha Bookout Kathy Endicott Cathy Fortenberry Sandy Lancaster Cathy Lang Pam Lee Marie Moore Mary Parsons John and Tascha Piatt And my lovely wife, Linda
Without God using these people to help this devotional would not have been possible.
Dr. Mike Rouse