O For Intelligent, Sensible leaders!

O for intelligent, sensible leaders!

Nothing significant happens in life without someone providing good leadership to achieve it.  That is just one of the immutable laws of life.  Everything rises or falls on leadership—and if it is going to rise, then it will require a foundation of intelligent, sensible leadership.  If it falls, it will most likely be because there was a leader who had charisma or maybe even competence, but lacked character.  That’s why, in I Timothy 4:12, Paul told a young, developing leader named Timothy, “As a young man be an example in leadership.” In other words, Paul was saying that more than charisma and competance, it is the example of a leader’s life that counts most.

The Bible tells us that David was just such a leader.  He was one of the greatest leaders in human history, not so much because of his great exploits, or even his perfect track record, but because of his personal integrity.  In spite of his well known mistakes, Psalm 78:72 says of David, “His good heart made him a good leader; he guided his people wisely and well.”

Unfortunately, a lot of leaders today in government, business and even in the church, have loads of personal charisma and gobs of professional competence, but they bomb because of the lack of something far more important: a good heart.  The good heart of a good leader doesn’t necessarily mean personal magnetism or off the charts job knowledge, but it does mean credibility and conviction. As Cavett Roberts said, “If a leader’s people understand him, he’ll get their attention.  If they trust him, he’ll get their action.” You see, it’s moral fiber that really counts in leadership worth following.

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said: “Every great organization is lengthened by the shadow of a single person.  The quality and character of the leader determines the quality and character of the organization.”  O for intelligent, sensible leaders who will lengthen and deepen the organizations they lead! How we need men and women in Washington, DC and on Wall Street, in the academy and in the church, and especially in our homes, whose character enriches and strengthens those whom they lead!

Now here is the deal:  Take Emerson’s words and combine them with the words of Proverbs 28:2 and apply them to anywhere you are involved: your family, your business, your school or your church.  If you have any influence in those arenas at all—and I suspect you have more influence than you realize—then those people and that organization will be strengthened, lengthened and deepened if you will exert intelligent, sensible, good and godly leadership.

I hope you will.  Your world desperately needs it.

“The task of the leader is to get his people from where they are
to where they have not been.”
~Henry Kissinger

Your Assignment, Should You Choose To Accept It:

Ralph Waldo Emerson also said, “Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” Consider that quote in terms of the area(s) where you have influence.  In what way may God be calling you to be a trailblazer for the people you lead?