Page 14 - May 2023 - Truth & Tidings

“ hen the real leader speaks, The Lord’s life, although that of a leader,

people listen” is a quote found
Win leadership manuals. When it was that of service. He stated, “Even as
the Son of man came not to be ministered
comes to our Lord Jesus Christ, He epito- unto, but to minister, and to give his life as
mized this role as a leader. His authority a ransom for many” (Mat 20:28). Service
1
was apparent to all and was revealed to us, is the true basis of Christian leadership.
in particular, in His three-year ministry. Most strong leaders today are those that
What were some key elements in His have “risen” through the ranks. A CEO of
leadership role that can be an inspiration a factory who “has worked himself up”
for believers to apply to our own lives? from the factory floor will generally have
As a leader, the Lord Jesus was unique. more respect, credibility and loyalty from
He was “God manifest in the flesh,” those workers than an individual para-
but arose out of humble beginnings. He chuted in from another company to be
emerges from the pages of Scripture early the leader. The Lord had humble, earthly
in the Gospel accounts drawing men and beginnings. He was the son of a carpenter
women unto Himself in a seemingly ef- and worked in that trade Himself. He
fortless way. He did not have to learn shared in all the trials of the small band He
leadership “techniques” or apply the latest was leading, and His service was symbol-
psychological trends to draw followers ized in that profound example when He
after Him. He was the perfect leader, and washed the disciples’ feet. A true leader
what we can learn from His life in the has to be engaged with those he is lead-
sphere of leadership (not restricted just to ing. It is only by sharing the good and the
elders) is at the heart of this article. Not bad together and truly listening to those
all believers can be leaders, but there are that are being led that the group will be
characteristics and skills of leaders that motivated to accomplish the necessary
can be learned by those who are consid- goals in harmony with the leader.
ering a leadership role. For the Christian, In the real world, leadership needs to
what better example to consider than the ¹ Bible quotations in this article are from the
Lord Jesus Himself? KJV.

142 TRUTH kTidings May 2023