By Rich Peterson, Church Relations
General Eisenhower used to demonstrate the art of leadership with a simple piece of string. He’d put it on a table and say:
“Pull it and it will follow you wherever you wish. Push it and it will go nowhere at all.”
When the Bible speaks of leadership it rarely mentions what a leader DOES, it speaks instead of what a leader IS.
What you are is as important as what you do.
It was said of David that he “led the people with integrity of heart and guided them with skillful hands “(Ps. 78:72).
This (my favorite) verse points out two qualities of Kingdom Leadership:
- Integrity
- Skill
The second quality (skill) has to do with the continuing education, ongoing learning, and constant pursuit of knowledge and experience that adds to the ability, dexterity and proficiency of the leader. These are important issues:
- To continue learning in formal and informal settings is essential for sharpening one’s skills.
- To ongoingly explore new ideas, new concepts, new territories, and new horizons (to not become satisfied with the status quo) is crucial for expanding one’s vision for the future.
- To constantly pursue knowledge in every form is to lead God’s people with skillful ability and mastery.
A true kingdom leader must lead with skillful hands.
BUT, even more important for the kingdom leader is a leader’s heart. Integrity of heart or a heart of integrity is what God looks for most in His leaders.
1 Timothy 3:1-7 lists some of these Heart Qualities:
- A Kingdom Leader should be living an exemplary life that is obvious to both Christians and non-Christians.
- A Kingdom Leader should be morally pure, maintaining God’s standard of righteousness.
- A Kingdom Leader should walk by faith, demonstrate hope, and manifest true biblical love in all relationships.
- A Kingdom Leader should be wise, discerning, and experienced; the kind of Christian who reflects true humility and is disciplined by God’s grace to live a godly life and to be a person of prayer.
- A Kingdom Leader should live a well-ordered life that makes the Gospel attractive to unbelievers.
- A Kingdom Leader should not be in bondage to any sinful cravings. Furthermore, that person should carefully consider the way his/her freedom in Christ might lead others to sin.
- A Kingdom Leader should be able to control angry feelings, never expressing these feelings in hurtful ways nor allowing them to linger indefinitely.
“He led them with a heart of integrity and guided them with skillful hands.”
Discussion Question:
In the comments, share your answer. Or copy and paste the link to this blog with an answer to one of these questions to your social media.
- Where do you struggle as a Kingdom Leader?
- Share your response to reading this blog post.
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