Do you want to become a great leader? You might say that you are already an excellent leader, but your success could be no more than a mirage. On the other hand, you might say that you are merely a competent leader, or that you are challenged in the area of leadership ability, but in God's eyes be more successful than you think.
Or you might believe that you are not a leader at all because you are not a manager, CEO, political representative, or in some other recognized position of leadership. But we all can and should be leaders in one way or another. For example, if you are a parent, then you can lead your children in growing morally, emotionally, spiritually, and in many other ways. As a Christian, you can lead people to Jesus. You don't have to be a pastor or an evangelist to do that. Or you can lead a new believer in spiritual growth through encouragement, praying together, and even in ongoing discipleship.
Yes, we all can and should be leaders in some way, but do you want to become a great leader? How does God look at your leadership now? Will it stand the test of time? Will it endure the judgement of God? No matter how successful you think you are, you may be completely missing the mark. And that is the case when you are not leading with love.
Of course, you need to be leading out of love for God and obedience to Him (Mark 12:30
And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.'*
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). But that's only part of the picture of leadership and love. God also requires of us that our leadership be motivated by love for others, and that it be practiced with love. To do otherwise is to violate the second greatest commandment of God. Jesus said that the second greatest commandment is to "love your neighbor as yourself" (Mark 12:31
The second is equally important: `Love your neighbor as yourself.'* No other commandment is greater than these."
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). When we truly love our neighbor as ourselves, then we will lead with love.
The kind of love that God calls for is a selfless concern for the well-being of others. It is a giving love that is focused on helping others. It is often a sacrificial love that requires that we put the needs of others before ourselves. God practiced this kind of love when He gave His Son for us while people were still sinners and enemies of God (John 3:16
"For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
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; Romans 5:8-10
But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God's sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God's condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son.
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). He paid a great price for the benefit of others out of his concern for their well-being.
Likewise, we also must be motivated by love for others. If we lead out of a desire for fame, fortune, or other self-interests, then we are falling far short of successful leadership.
The Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians that love "is not self-seeking" (1 Corinthians 13:5
or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.
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). If we lead in order to meet our own goals, then we are being self-serving instead of being concerned for others. Too often in Christian leadership, leaders are primarily motivated by goals and objectives that devalue people. For example, a pastor may want to fill a church's sanctuary on Sunday morning, but his concern may be more for meeting his goal of filling the seats than it is for helping and serving the people who are in the seats. This is because Christian leadership has adopted much of the outlook of "successful" secular leadership.
While some management skills and leadership ideas are good and helpful, others aren't. Often, skills are sought and developed in order to meet goals. People are at times seen as primarily a means to an end. They simply are there to help the leaders meet their goals. The leaders ignore the well-being of people in order to reach these objectives, instead of making God inspired goals for the benefit of people. Tragically, this sometimes happens in Christian leadership, and people suffer because of it. Sadly for those leaders, in God's eyes they have accomplished nothing. Paul also wrote to the Corinthians:
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body that I may boast, but have not love, I gain nothing (1 Corinthians 13:1-3
If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn't love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God's secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn't love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it;* but if I didn't love others, I would have gained nothing.
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).
Since even practicing spiritual gifts or doing great deeds without love will not profit you at all, it is clear that even leadership without love will not profit you anything in God's eyes.
God is pleased when our leadership is motivated by a love for others. But we must also practice our leadership with love. Being motivated by love for others is certainly necessary, but it must be paired with practicing our leadership in love. In other words, we must lead in a loving way. Paul also wrote to the Corinthians, "Let all that you do be done in love" (1 Corinthians 16:14
And do everything with love.
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). Thus, our leading must be done in love. When we lead lovingly, the people we lead are encouraged, built up, and strengthened as individuals and as a part of the family of God.
An example of practicing leadership with love is speaking the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15
Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.
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). It's possible to be motivated out of concern for others when speaking the truth to them, yet speak it in a way that doesn't help them at all. We can even cause more harm than good because we speak the truth carelessly, without compassion, or harshly. How much better it is to speak the truth compassionately, kindly, and with humility. People are much more receptive to the truth when it is spoken in love. Yet at times some Christian leaders speak harshly or callously and offend people, thereby doing more harm than good. On the other hand, when we are led by the Spirit, and speak the truth with the fruit of the Spirit, then the truth of God can break down barriers and bring positive and powerful changes in people's lives.
Leaders who love will also listen humbly and sincerely to those they influence for feedback about their leadership. Leaders should not assume that they will hear infallibly from God or that others cannot or should not give respectful but constructive feedback (2 Samuel 7:1-17
When King David was settled in his palace and the LORD had given him rest from all the surrounding enemies, the king summoned Nathan the prophet. "Look," David said, "I am living in a beautiful cedar palace,* but the Ark of God is out there in a tent!" Nathan replied to the king, "Go ahead and do whatever you have in mind, for the LORD is with you." But that same night the LORD said to Nathan, "Go and tell my servant David, `This is what the LORD has declared: Are you the one to build a house for me to live in? I have never lived in a house, from the day I brought the Israelites out of Egypt until this very day. I have always moved from one place to another with a tent and a Tabernacle as my dwelling. Yet no matter where I have gone with the Israelites, I have never once complained to Israel's tribal leaders, the shepherds of my people Israel. I have never asked them, "Why haven't you built me a beautiful cedar house?"' "Now go and say to my servant David, `This is what the LORD of Heaven's Armies has declared: I took you from tending sheep in the pasture and selected you to be the leader of my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies before your eyes. Now I will make your name as famous as anyone who has ever lived on the earth! And I will provide a homeland for my people Israel, planting them in a secure place where they will never be disturbed. Evil nations won't oppress them as they've done in the past, starting from the time I appointed judges to rule my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. "`Furthermore, the LORD declares that he will make a house for you—a dynasty of kings! For when you die and are buried with your ancestors, I will raise up one of your descendants, your own offspring, and I will make his kingdom strong. He is the one who will build a house—a temple—for my name. And I will secure his royal throne forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. If he sins, I will correct and discipline him with the rod, like any father would do. But my favor will not be taken from him as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from your sight. Your house and your kingdom will continue before me* for all time, and your throne will be secure forever.'" So Nathan went back to David and told him everything the LORD had said in this vision.
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; 2 Samuel 12:1-15
So the LORD sent Nathan the prophet to tell David this story: "There were two men in a certain town. One was rich, and one was poor. The rich man owned a great many sheep and cattle. The poor man owned nothing but one little lamb he had bought. He raised that little lamb, and it grew up with his children. It ate from the man's own plate and drank from his cup. He cuddled it in his arms like a baby daughter. One day a guest arrived at the home of the rich man. But instead of killing an animal from his own flock or herd, he took the poor man's lamb and killed it and prepared it for his guest." David was furious. "As surely as the LORD lives," he vowed, "any man who would do such a thing deserves to die! He must repay four lambs to the poor man for the one he stole and for having no pity." Then Nathan said to David, "You are that man! The LORD, the God of Israel, says: I anointed you king of Israel and saved you from the power of Saul. I gave you your master's house and his wives and the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. And if that had not been enough, I would have given you much, much more. Why, then, have you despised the word of the LORD and done this horrible deed? For you have murdered Uriah the Hittite with the sword of the Ammonites and stolen his wife. From this time on, your family will live by the sword because you have despised me by taking Uriah's wife to be your own. "This is what the LORD says: Because of what you have done, I will cause your own household to rebel against you. I will give your wives to another man before your very eyes, and he will go to bed with them in public view. You did it secretly, but I will make this happen to you openly in the sight of all Israel." Then David confessed to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." Nathan replied, "Yes, but the LORD has forgiven you, and you won't die for this sin. Nevertheless, because you have shown utter contempt for the LORD* by doing this, your child will die." After Nathan returned to his home, the LORD sent a deadly illness to the child of David and Uriah's wife.
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; 2 Samuel 12:24-25
Then David comforted Bathsheba, his wife, and slept with her. She became pregnant and gave birth to a son, and David* named him Solomon. The LORD loved the child and sent word through Nathan the prophet that they should name him Jedidiah (which means "beloved of the LORD"), as the LORD had commanded.*
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; 2 Chronicles 29:25
King Hezekiah then stationed the Levites at the Temple of the LORD with cymbals, lyres, and harps. He obeyed all the commands that the LORD had given to King David through Gad, the king's seer, and the prophet Nathan.
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; Acts 21:10-11
Several days later a man named Agabus, who also had the gift of prophecy, arrived from Judea. He came over, took Paul's belt, and bound his own feet and hands with it. Then he said, "The Holy Spirit declares, `So shall the owner of this belt be bound by the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem and turned over to the Gentiles.'"
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). On the contrary, love and humility should give leaders attentive ears to the people in their sphere of influence. By doing so, they can learn more about the people's needs. They will also grow as leaders as they take people's feedback to the Word and to prayer so God can speak to them concerning the situation.
Another way to explain leadership and love is that, just like a shepherd of sheep, leaders need to keep focused on serving the needs of the people they influence. They should help them to grow spiritually, mentally, emotionally, socially, and in physical health. They should support their holistic health as a child of God.
Do you want to become a great leader in God's eyes? If so, then make it a real priority to lead with love. Take some practical steps toward becoming a more loving leader. Ask God on a daily basis to help you be motivated by love for others, and to lead in a loving way. Prayerfully read over the following scriptures on love on a regular basis, and meditate on how they apply to your life (1 Corinthians 13; 1 Corinthians 16:14
And do everything with love.
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; Romans 12:9-21
Don't just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection,* and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.* Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God's people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you. Don't curse them; pray that God will bless them. Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with each other. Don't be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don't think you know it all! Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say,"I will take revenge; I will pay them back,"* says the LORD. Instead,"If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink.In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads."* Don't let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.
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; Romans 5:8
But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.
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; John 3:16
"For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
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). Then apply to your life what God shows you. Don't give up. Keep working on it and you will grow as a loving leader.
Leading others with love is crucial to the kingdom of God. It will make the Church a brighter light in this darkened world. Therefore, let us resolve to become more Christlike in our motivations by leading others out of a concern for their well-being, and let us practice our leadership in a loving way. Let us humbly come before God, and ask that by His grace we may walk as Jesus did, humbly and lovingly serving others. As we do these things, we will by God's grace change the world.
