To Inspire:

We have an upcoming event in October focused on leadership. It has me thinking about leaders. A leader is someone who influences another person – which means we’re all leaders.

John Maxwell is a Christian author who has spent decades studying leadership and sharing his insights – in many books as well as through talks, workshops, and conferences he’s given all over the world. John has taught more people about leadership than any other person on the planet. So today, allow me to share one of his daily reflections in his book, Leadership Promises for Every Day: A Daily Devotional. This one is entitled, “Leadership in God’s Economy.”

Some leaders step into positions of power out of love and a sense of mission. Others seek leadership merely to gain power over others and to revel in feelings of prestige and superiority. Normally it doesn’t take long to determine which sort of leader someone is.

Leaders are not given authority to better themselves, to enlarge their income or social status, or to improve their standard of living. Instead, they are first and always servants of others. This concept appears throughout the Bible. Consider the difference between leadership in purely human terms versus God’s terms:

Leadership in the Economy of Selfish Human Beings                                 

• Pursuit of power and prestige                                                                                         
• Improve the wealth and status of the leader                                                           
• See others as enemies and competitors.                                                                 
• Motive is to remove or defeat the opposition                                                         
• The desired result: glorification of the leader

Leadership in God’s Economy

• Pursuit of love and service to others
• Improve the welfare of others
• See others as complementary not competitive
• Motive is to meet the needs of others and grow the cause
• The desired result: God is glorified   

Perhaps do an assessment of your “leadership.” Better yet, do your own assessment but also ask someone close to you to do an assessment.  Use the above criterion or identify others. See what you learn and see what changes you can make to lead more like true leaders lead – in service to God and others.

Living a great life means being a great leader. Pursue great leadership – your family and those around you will welcome it. And the world needs it!

Have a great weekend.

Written by Matt Palmer, Partner & Co-Founder