There are volumes upon volumes of books on leadership in this world. Men and women have written on the matter, approaching it from different perspectives and for various vocations and situations. John Maxwell, author of more than 70 books on leadership, famously stated that everything rises and falls on leadership. That means that leadership is as crucial as the success or failure of any person, institution or organization. In this article, we shall delve into this matter and see what a good leader is as far as God’s word is concerned.
Who is a Leader?
Since people are unique and fashioned differently, there will be varied definitions of leadership. The following are some definitions I came up with from my research.
- Instead of gloating over a title, a leader will inspire and motivate those around him or her.
- A leader guides rather than orders and respects instead of dictating. This level of humility helps a leader recognize that being the leader doesn’t make them the best or brightest in the room.
- A leader will lead people to places they would not go alone.
One key theme that runs through these definitions is that leaders are called to be servants. Hence, how does scripture view the whole idea of leadership? The Bible shows that a good leader embodies several traits and principles worth emulating.
Serving, not Bossing Others
We have said over and over again that good leaders are servants, not bosses. Scripture tells us about Jesus’ experience with his disciples. As they journeyed, they got into a conversation because of a request made by John and James (Mark 10:35-45); they wanted to be ‘given seats’ next to Jesus in the new Kingdom. Their request got the other disciples indignant, and Jesus had to set the record straight regarding what God-glorifying leadership looked like. Jesus helped them see the point we made earlier, that leadership is not about positions but serving just as he did. Christ came to serve in as much as he had all the reasons not to do it (Philippians 2:1-10). In John 13:12-14, Jesus washed the disciple’s feet as a sign of service and humility. Peter was initially against it, but later, he understood that to represent Jesus, he needed to be served to learn how to serve when his time came. Service is at the heart of good biblical leadership.
Wisdom and Understanding
Wisdom is defined as the practical skills associated with living a successful life by the Lexham Dictionary. Solomon is said to have received wisdom from God (1 Kings 4:29-34) beyond what other wise men had. Wisdom is the ability to make decisions with knowledge beyond ordinary human understanding. A good leader needs to be wise and not with human wisdom (James 3:15), which is demonic and unspiritual, but with godly wisdom, that which is divine and given by the Spirit of God (Proverbs 2:6). With wisdom comes understanding, as mentioned in the same verse. When a leader has understanding, they can take on challenges tactfully, not thoughtlessly jumping to conclusions. James 1:5 tells of the secret to receiving wisdom, asking God for it, and proving that God’s word is the ultimate source of wisdom.
Secondly, when we sit with the servants of God who have gone before us—ministers of the gospel who have been reputable in character—we glean some wisdom for living. Good leaders take time to lay down their lives at the feet of other godly men and women, gleaning from their experiences and lessons learnt over time (Proverbs 13:20).
Thirdly, we get wisdom by growing in the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 9:10). Fear does not mean that we shudder and hide, but fear that alludes more to reverence, surrender and high-level awe. Lastly, we get wisdom by reading and studying the word of God (Psalm 19:7). The good leader cannot cast away the word of God from their eyes and heart, for therein, God has revealed his heart and poured out wisdom incessantly. A good leader is a person of wisdom and understanding.
Integrity and Righteousness
The third thing about the character of a good leader is that they are full of integrity and lovers of righteousness. Integrity means that your words and actions align, whether in person or absentia. Good leaders are neither two-faced nor hypocritical. Righteousness is the state of being upright and faultless. Human-based righteousness comes from our fleshly efforts to achieve known standards (Philippians 3:4-12). However, there is also imputed righteousness, a term used to refer to how Christ placed his righteousness upon us in exchange for our sins. Imputed righteousness makes us righteous in God’s eyes because of Christ’s righteousness, not our efforts (Philippians 3:7-12).
Integrity guides the good leader (Proverbs 11:3) whenever they start taking the crooked path. Because we are all human, we have the weakness within us that causes us to veer off the right path. A leader of integrity is also a humble leader devoid of prideful tendencies. The integrity of the heart is a result of an upright or righteous life. Is this a quality you possess, dear leader? Do those who follow you know you are a person of integrity, walking in the righteousness Christ has imputed on you?
Courage and Faithfulness
Fourth, a good leader is a courageous person who is faithful before God and man. After the death of Moses, Joshua was tasked with guiding a great and numerous people. For his motivation, God charged him to be strong, courageous, and unafraid (Joshua 1:8-9). He was also called to be faithful–not to turn to the right or left–in what he has learnt about God through all his experiences in the wilderness sojourn.
Why is it essential for a good leader to be courageous? Courage is vital because leading people is no mean task. The responsibility to lead doesn’t allow us to be cowards because we–like Joshua–are called to be defenders of the people. We must be courageous enough to readily lay down our lives for those we have been given charge over. Courage calls for faithfulness–being committed to a particular path regardless of the challenges and staying the course to the end (2 Timothy 4:1-5).
Compassion and Care
Finally, a good leader is characterized by a compassionate heart and a desire to care for his subjects. Jesus was the most sympathetic and empathetic leader who ever lived. When Jesus entered the scene, he declared in the Temple that he had come for the poor and to bring healing for the blind (Luke 4:18). Basically, he was saying that his core ministry was to show men heaven’s compassion and care in a way they had never seen before. Jesus called himself the good shepherd who gave his life for his sheep’s sake (John 10:14-16). He is the best example of compassion and care.
We must follow his ways as leaders. A good leader puts the needs of his subjects before his own because he knows he is ultimately their servant (Matthew 20:26-28). Biblical leaders value serving others, seeking God’s guidance and upholding compassion. The call to leadership is not about position and fame but rather about laying down our lives for the sake of others and the glory of God.
There are many more things to say about leaders and leadership. In summary, a good leader should have a servant’s heart, walk in wisdom, and be courageous and faithful in his dealings. They should also exhibit a deep sense of compassion and care for the people they are leading. All in all, a good leader must depend on God to effectively live out all these qualities. May we always seek to uphold God’s design for leadership.
References
The Many Definitions Of Leadership. https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbusinesscouncil/2020/10/12/the-many-definitions-of-leadership/?sh=3c25c09f52ce
