All of us are leaders.
A great leader releases other leaders. A mediocre leader competes with other leaders. A great leader finds joy in seeing others ascend beyond his influence. A mediocre leader feels threatened by leaders of similar talent.
In Luke 10, Jesus had sent out 70 to differing villages and cities to which He would soon visit. When the 70 returned they shared testimonies of power flowing through them for the healing and deliverance of others.
Jesus’s response? …at that very time Jesus rejoiced greatly!
Jesus came not to be served but to serve. He left all of us with the power of the Spirit by which He Himself was anointed.
I have served with leaders who loved my talents for what they could do to further their own agenda. I have also served with leaders who wanted to release my talents at the expense of their own influence.
One type of leader, I would die for; the other type I wanted to leave as soon as possible!
The fruit of a great leader is that even greater leaders gather around. An insecure leader feels better when other strong leaders leave, and often works to undermine their talent.
The three years that Jesus walked on the earth are the greatest three years of leadership training ever!!! Jesus took 12 uninformed, mostly uneducated, rash, and uncouth disciples and trained them to change the world.
He taught them servant leadership. This example of leadership: while many give verbal praise to servant leadership most leaders can’t fit it into their leadership model of self-goals.
It is easier to organize and promote yourself than die to self.
Three principles I follow:
- I enjoy being around leaders more talented than I am. I pray about how to release their gifting and not have it fit into my own plans.
- I am loyal. A strong leader will follow you if they know that you are for them; that you will not turn against them or use them. When they see you sacrifice for them, you will have a team member for life.
- I spend time with them. Leaders aren’t developed from a distance. Jesus walked with His disciples for three years. I have consistently, through 48 years of leading in one church, had groups of men that I have spent three years with meeting regularly.
When John the Baptist heard about Jesus, he told his followers, “I must decrease so that He can increase.” Jesus followed the same plan with the cross.
It’s your turn. Who needs to increase through your leadership of decreasing?