Biblical Leadership: What Is Your Leadership Purpose?Sample

7. The Highest Purpose – in the footsteps of Jesus

While we’ve covered a lot of ground so far, we have yet to come to the “central teaching” of the Bible – based on the words and teachings of Jesus Christ himself.

Jesus’ primary message was one of servant leadership – that being a leader means laying aside one’s own interests (or, in his case, his very life) for those who have been put under your care or authority:

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” – Mark 10:45

In the same way, core to your purpose as a leader is to serve those you lead. As a Christian leader – you are in a unique position to be the very hands and feet of God Himself to those you lead.

Imagine a situation wherein an employee or colleague is suffering – from divorce, death of a spouse, financial ruin, missed deadlines, career setbacks, or others. If Jesus were there, He would likely sit with them, listen to them, and bless them.

As a leader, you are often one of a few to become aware of such situations. And, in those cases, you are called to do as Jesus did – to set yourself aside, to sacrifice your own goals or agenda, for the sake of reaching out to help.

In fact, opportunities like these may quite likely be the PRIMARY reason why God has placed you in your position at work. After all, the Bible says that these good works have already been prepared in advance for you to do:

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. – Ephesians 2:10

For additional clarity, let’s look at a biblical example. Do you remember this verse from the story of Esther in the Bible?

For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” – Esther 4:14

That last sentence is key – who knows if God hasn’t placed you in your leadership position to help hundreds or touch the life of even one person?

Can you see that it is God who has placed you where you are now – at this time and in this place?

Even if the opportunity you encounter seems small to you, remember that there is much rejoicing in heaven over each person you touch – one by one. So don’t discount or skip any opportunity, no matter how tiny.

Remember the life of Jesus? He was on a “non-stop business trip” to establish God’s Kingdom on earth (a really big startup assignment!), but even so, He always took time out to stop and help even just one person who needed Him.

As you follow in the footsteps of Jesus and touch the lives of others, you build up treasure in heaven – a treasure of more value than that from any other “purpose” we have looked at so far.

This is your primary purpose on earth. To touch those in need and change lives.

And, as you execute this primary purpose of your leadership here on earth, do not be surprised when others ask you about this even or disagree with your decisions. At those times, take comfort in this verse:

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. – Romans 12:2

Now you know your purpose – go forth and do it!

Reflection / Application

1. What do you think of your current placement as a leader relative to the stories of Esther and the example of Jesus? Can you see the opportunities that you will meet as PRIMARY to your purpose?
2. When was the last time you set aside your goals & objectives to step out of your comfort zone (or official responsibility) to help someone else within your organization?
3. If you come across an opportunity to help, are you tempted to delegate the problem to someone else (the supervisor or HR department for instance? How does James 4:17 teach about that?