Leadership

Former Attorney General John Ashcroft's godly father tried to prepare him for life in the Nation’s Capital after his son's election to the United States Senate. He said, "John, the culture of Washington is a culture of arrogance. (By the way, most power-centers are.) The culture of Jesus is a culture of humility. Don't get sucked into the culture of arrogance."  Success; who doesn’t want to be successful in their careers, in being a parent or at anything we do. I remember a man saying that he had a book on his desk about Ronald Regan and leadership and he said “I think that if I were to read that book that I would learn something about leadership that I could incorporate into my life that would make me a better leader.”

 Let’s take a look at the greatest leader that ever walked the face of this earth and see what made Him great and I am sure we can learn something from Him that will help us be a better leader.

Mark 10:42  But Jesus called them (disciples) to him, and smith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.

Mark 10:43  But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:

Mark 10:44  And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.

Mark 10:45  For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Jesus taught that you can earn your authority in people's lives by serving them, by putting them first and by helping them succeed. Jesus told his disciples if you want to be the chief then you’re going to have to be a servant. Now he wasn’t talking about starting at the bottom and working your way up, He was speaking of humbling yourself then He gave an example.  Jesus said I didn’t come into this world so that others could serve me but I came to give my life for others. In the book Good to Great written by Jim Collins he researched eleven of the most effective companies in the United States, and then they pursued this question: "What specifically makes these companies so different?"  Here is what he and his team discovered. The CEOs who led them were humble leaders, highly focused, sometimes driven people but known for being gracious. Would you not say that Jesus was highly focused?

Luke 2:49….. wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?

Bottom line Jesus said don’t be like those that exercise lordship over others but be servants. When the successful leader do something right, they walk over to a window and point to all the reasons out there (especially all the other people) that are the reasons for their success. When they do something wrong, they walk to a mirror and they assume the blame themselves. The less effective leaders do it just the other way around. When things go wrong they point out the window for excuses and explanations; when things are going right, they go to the mirror to admire the one who deserves the credit. Jesus said “it shall not be so among you.” I know the more we know about Jesus the more we can learn about good leadership, for 2000 years after He returned to glory He still has those who are giving their lives for Him.

Zing Ziegler says” You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help other people get what they want.”