Where Jesus was concerned with freedom, they were concerned with control. Where Jesus was concerned with service, they were concerned with status.
Where Jesus met the genuine needs of others, they were concerned only with their own needs and wants. Where Jesus was concerned with the development of his disciples, they sought to manipulate mortals.
Where Jesus was filled with compassion balanced by justice, they have so often been filled with harshness and injustice. Perhaps all of us would not be the perfect example of leadership, but all of us can make a serious effort toward approaching that great ideal. One of the great teachings of the Man of Galilee, the Lord Jesus Christ, was that you and I carry within us immense possibilities. In urging us to be perfect as our Father in Heaven is perfect, Jesus was not taunting us or teasing us.
He was telling us a powerful truth about our possibilities and about our potential. It is a truth almost too stunning to contemplate. Jesus, who could not lie, sought to beckon us to move further along the pathway to perfection. We are not yet perfect as Jesus was, but unless those about us can see us striving and improving, they will not be able to look to us for example, and they will see us as less than fully serious about the things to be done. Each of us has more opportunities to do good and to be good than we ever use.
These opportunities lie all around us. Whatever the size of our present circle of effective influence, if we were to improve our performance even a little bit, that circle would be enlarged. There are many individuals waiting to be touched and loved if we care enough to improve in our performance. We must remember that those mortals we meet in parking lots, offices, elevators, and elsewhere are that portion of mankind God has given us to love and to serve.
It will do us little good to speak of the general brotherhood of mankind if we cannot regard those who are all around us as our brothers and sisters. If we do well with our talents and with the opportunities around us, this will not go unnoticed by God. And to those who do well with the opportunities given them, even more will be given! The scriptures contain many marvelous case studies of leaders who, unlike Jesus, were not perfect but were still very effective.
It would do us all much good if we were to read them—and read them often. We forget that the scriptures present us with centuries of experience in leadership, and, even more importantly, the fixed principles upon which real leadership must operate if it is to succeed.
The scriptures are the handbook of instructions for the would-be leader. I make no apology for giving something of the accomplishments of Jesus Christ to those who seek success as leaders. If we would be eminently successful, here is our pattern. All the ennobling, perfect, and beautiful qualities of maturity, of strength, and of courage are found in this one person.
Perhaps the most important thing I can say about Jesus Christ, more important than all else I have said, is that he lives. He really does embody all those virtues and attributes the scriptures tell us of. If we can come to know that, we then know the central reality about man and the universe.
In other words, we will find it very difficult to be significant leaders unless we recognize the reality of the perfect leader, Jesus Christ, and let him be the light by which we see the way! Sermon on the Mount, by Carl Bloch. Used by permission of the National Historic Museum at Frederiksborg. August Eldon Tanner. Reproving with Love Spencer J. Marvin K.
Are there gospel guidelines for family planning? Homer Ellsworth. Dyke Walton. The Call Lucille N. Five times Jesus speaks about laying down his life for the sheep , 15, The good shepherd chooses personal sacrifice for the welfare of his sheep.
The same is true of shepherd-leaders. They willingly experience personal sacrifice for the benefit of those they lead. The shepherd has a personal stake in the well-being of the sheep. The shepherd is invested in the sheep and sticks with them through thick and thin The true leader takes the time and energy to build solid and genuine relationships with those he or she leads.
Jesus had a vision of the future and lived for the fulfillment of that vision. In this case, it was increasing the size of his flock — those who would become his genuine followers So, with due respect to Greenleaf, I propose we press beyond being servant-leaders to becoming shepherd-leaders. John B. MacDonald has served for decades as a lawyer and pastor-teacher. He is an associate with Outreach Canada and focuses on equipping and encouraging others to become more like Jesus Christ and to live all of life with God-honoring competence and joy.
Forgot your password? Servant Leadership. They have the willingness to practice being flexible and actually invite change! It can be easy to get stuck in routines, with one set way of doing things. Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Set in the context of running, the first two verses of Hebrews 12 define a life of resilience. Initially, you have to trick your body into liking long distances! You run short distances first and then build up to longer ones. You get blisters and you take water breaks, but eventually you can run farther and longer. Resilience in the Christian life can only happen when we look to Jesus.
Servant leaders recognize that struggles are real and life is difficult, but God is in control. Resilience is the ability to bounce back, to push through and to press on based on the truth that God has enabled us to persevere because he is our ultimate source of strength. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace.
Could you imagine what life would be like if everyone thought, looked and acted the same? The world would be so dull! A servant leader sees people as valuable to God and stewards their time and talents well. This kind of leader calls out what is good and true about the people they lead, giving them instruction and encouragement in how to serve God well. Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep.
How many times have you had a friend or family member sit with you when you were hurting? Have you ever received an encouraging note from someone when you needed it most? Think about what it meant for you to have a person truly empathize with you during your struggles. Empathy for a servant leader is simply being able to visualize yourself in someone else's position.
It helps you to understand what someone is feeling. Empathy is a key aspect of leadership.
0コメント