Leadership’s Ultimate Failure…I Did It!
It just naturally happens; you get carried away. The next thing you know, you are the hero of your own story – the knight in shining armor. You saved the day, the company, the youth group, the church, the marriage, even helped transform a life.
Stop! Hold everything! Are you and I really the ones who bring change or are we the ones God works through to change lives? All of us in Christian Leadership have experienced this struggle at some point in our journey. It usually follows a pattern. We pray, asking God for His help. He comes through for us. Then we forget WHO really DID IT.
In Numbers 20: 1-12 we discover Moses had a similar problem. He prayed for God’s help and received specific instructions. The added twist in his case was he lost patience with the people he was leading. God told him to speak to the rock and in his frustration and pride, he struck the rock twice.
He actually took credit for getting water out of the rock. He says to the people, “Shall we (speaking of himself and his brother Aaron) bring water for you out of this rock?” v: 10. Just when I think that is prideful, I am reminded of all the things I have taken credit for in my ministry and quickly my judgmental spirit subsides.
Tweet ThisAs a leader, Moses shared some of the same struggles we face today in our leadership. He learned some of the same lessons. In this situation he learned or at least had the potential to learn:
- Integrity in leadership matters; the spiritual details of a leader’s obedience are not optional.
- Consistency in leadership is difficult; external forces always tempt you to forsake your values.
- Patience in leadership is a virtue which is in direct proportion to relationship
- Pride in the heart of leadership is a destructive force which deceitfully elevates self above God and team. Ultimately it is self-destructive!
- Faithfulness in leadership is paramount; you cannot improve on God’s plans for your life, ministry or work.
I call this the Ultimate Leadership Failure because taking credit for something which we did not do is representative of the lowest point in our leadership. We need to be careful to give the credit where it is due. Obviously God empowers us, but neither can we forget team or individuals with whom we work. We need to be quick to make sure we are giving praise and credit to them, rather than always being the hero.
I challenge you to evaluate your leadership in light of the five lessons above and make new commitments.
Excellent Article Mike! Thank you for reminding me that it is really all about Him!
Gary, we have to keep reminding each other and keep our focus clear. Thanks for what you do.
Mike
Great advice. Not as easy to ptactice. I’m going to write those five points in my notebook so that I will read them regularly. Thanks again. I always look forward to your e-mails as they always make me think about my ministry and how I can do better.
Tim, I appreciate how you are making application to your life, it is obvious you take your personal growth seriously. I am committed to continually providing content that will “add value” to your life and ministry.
Mike
The leadership lessons in the QT recently have been awesome great thoughts!!
John, I never cease to be amazed that the Bible still remains the #1 leadership book I read every year.