1 Corinthians 2:1-4 "1 And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.[a] 2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. 4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power"
Leadership is your ability to influence others to follow you. You may be a leader at home, at work, among friends and not even realize it. I think of role models in which this world is in short supply of. Those who were thought were great role models have recently been caught up in scandals in the media. It reminds me of Princess Leia in Star Wars sending the message, "Help me Obi-wan Kenobi, you're our only hope." Luckily, we do have a role models to look up to in the Church. The true spiritual leaders, the ones who do not put on a front on Sunday's, the true Saints who combine leadership and education to bring blessings to those around them. There is one sentence that strikes as intriguing, but controversial, "There is no such thing as a self-made Spiritual leader."
The chart below are contrasts between Spiritual and Natural Leadership
- Natural Leadership
- Self Confident
- Knows Men
- Makes Own Decisions
- Ambitious
- Creates Methods
- Enjoys Command
- Seeks Personal Reward
- Independent
- Spiritual Leadership
- Confident in God
- Knows God
- Seeks God's Will
- Humble
- Follows God's Examples
- Delights in Obedience to God
- Loves God and Others
- Depends on God
Chapter 5 - Can You Become A Leader?
Think about the chapter 5 title for just a minute. Can You Become a Leader? The Twelve Disciples, we're they leaders when Jesus found them? No, most of them were fishermen. Matthew was a tax collector. I can only imagine what life was like as a fisherman. I picture a biblical version of Deadliest Catch on the Sea of Galilee. I'm sure times were tough, the weather was bad at times and the crews not in high spirits but Jesus told them in Matthew 4:18-22 to take up their nets and follow him. I'm sure they were a rowdy bunch. Just knowing Jesus did not choose the well off to follow him gives me hope that anyone can become a leader.
Reflection
What qualities do you most look for in a leader? In what ways are you that kind of person?
I look for most of the qualities listed in the charts above. Above all else, I look for how personable the person is. Are they able to relate with diverse people in a way that people listen and follow their direction. I look for a leader that is not only involved with overseeing a project but is also involved in the process. I strive to be personable even though I am not in a leadership position where I work. My co-workers look up to me as a subject matter expert that they can come to with any issues they are running across. Most people will not help others in the same position due to the fear of the other person being chosen for leadership opportunities. This is where I say these people are wrong. One can differentiate themselves from their peers by stepping into a peer leadership role. This not only ensure that the company succeeds but that the best of the best are chosen to lead. I do not look for someone who seeks personal rewards. To me that is very selfish and not very leadership-esk.
In myself sense the ability to be personable as a natural leadership ability. I can talk to anybody, whether I have known them 10 years or less than 10 minutes. I believe it is this extrovert characteristic that has built my reputation for leadership. If you are right a lot, then people naturally will listen and follow. Some of you that personally know me may disagree with me, but I find myself demonstrating all characteristics of both the natural and Spiritual leadership qualities. I depend on God the most out of all the characteristics.
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