A different attitude is required for encouraging the spirit of leadership in others. Transforming followers requires rare courage and recognition that within every follower is an undiscovered leader. Remember God looks at the heart and His future purpose and not visible appearance or past circumstance.
The growth and development of people can be subtle but is the highest calling of true leadership. God’s best investment is in people and not gadgets, titles or projects but raising people for His vision. True leaders therefore work for the benefit of others to see them emerge to play God-given roles and not for their own personal gain or promotion. We influence others for their good because we want to develop them. We want their God-given potential and ability to blossom out. The period of training and developing others is often painful and thankless. A true leader also may need to fade out for a while when the task is accomplished and does not cling to remain always influential.
An important lesson of leadership is self-development to pursue God’s plan and purposes. Be the best you can be for God. Do not ever say again, it is too late for me to change or to improve for it is never too late. We can still expose ourselves to God for upward movement. The chain of yesterday must not tie you down. True leaders know this and will assist others overcome resistance and to develop and recover from past errors or limitations.
Not all change is improvement but without change there is no improvement. It is not what you are that holds you down but what you have been made to think you are not. I can do all things through Christ who supplies me ability. The one who effectively influences others to become leaders is a leader without limitations who also encourages others to see no limitations in Christ.
People tend to be what the most important people in their lives think they will become. You may have to first uproot what others have passed unto you and your people before you can plant what God wants. You can literally change people’s lives by your attitude and expectations of them. Do not drive people, instead discover what God wants them to be and influence them in that direction.
Successful people developers make the right assumptions about people. Our assumptions will determine how successful we are in developing leadership in others. We must seek to discover the potential of others whom we lead under God. We cannot make good success if we push them in the opposite direction of their calling.
We cannot hope for things we are not currently working on. To have a hope but make no effort cannot produce the desired result in us or in others. You will become only what you are becoming i.e. working on – right now.
Indeed there are many unsung leaders and change catalysts that played vital roles. Bathsheba, the mother of Solomon, is an example to consider.
I Kings 1[11] Wherefore Nathan spake unto Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, Hast thou not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith doth reign, and David our lord knoweth it not? [12] Now therefore come, let me, I pray thee, give thee counsel, that thou mayest save thine own life, and the life of thy son Solomon. [13] Go and get thee in unto king David, and say unto him, Didst not thou, my lord, O king, swear unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne? why then doth Adonijah reign? [14] Behold, while thou yet talkest there with the king, I also will come in after thee, and confirm thy words. [15] And Bathsheba went in unto the king into the chamber: and the king was very old; and Abishag the Shunammite ministered unto the king. [16] And Bathsheba bowed, and did obeisance unto the king. And the king said, What wouldest thou? [17] And she said unto him, My lord, thou swarest by the LORD thy God unto thine handmaid, saying , Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne. [18] And now, behold, Adonijah reigneth; and now, my lord the king, thou knowest it not: [19] And he hath slain oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance, and hath called all the sons of the king, and Abiathar the priest, and Joab the captain of the host: but Solomon thy servant hath he not called.
Bathsheba, a woman who lived with the reproach of a husband murdered by her lover, still saw greatness in her son Solomon amidst bitter palace rivalry and intrigues. Her move was an act of rare courage and great risk that could easily have cost her life as David, her protector, was dying and the future scenario difficult to predict …
But the risk paid off and Solomon, the son of Bathsheba, became King. The “more qualified” Adonijah, Abiathar and Joab (helpers of Adonijah) who did not see Solomon as King had to be uprooted … and the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon. Bathsheba’s task was done…little or nothing is heard of her in the scriptures after this. In eternity her distinguished act is well applauded.
Jesus Christ is the ultimate leader who exemplified humility, sacrifice, courage and compassion as He died on the cross that we may all be transformed to kings. Surrender your life to Him – He is waiting for you …now. Most leadership roles are tenured…but the inheritance we have in Him has no expiration date.
Bode
Enjoy a recent video teaching for Christian leaders on ”An adjusted gospel – a false gospel” by prominent theologian Dr. Albert Mohler
