Christ-Like LeadersSýnishorn

Control Freaks

There’s another issue that happens a lot within us and that is our inability to let go of control. We tend to be control freaks. Sometimes we’re even stubborn and hardheaded. In 1986, there was a horrible tragedy in the Black Sea where two ships collided. Hundreds of people died and after the investigation was over, what was reported was even more tragic. Evidence showed that it was not faulty technology that caused the accident; not GPS, satellite problems or anything technical. The two sea captains knew about the other ship and did not want to budge. One did not want to yield to the other, and as a result, the two ships collided, and hundreds of lives were lost. 

In order for us to be effective leaders, we must be willing to let go of so much control. We need to be able to combat our own stubbornness, our narrow thinking. Many ships are sinking in our world today, even within the church and within the body of Christ, because we are unable to change our paths. Many spiritual lives are being lost because we are unable to embrace everyone with the love of Christ. Christ-like leadership is not stubborn and it’s never about controlling everything. It’s about letting go and letting God, which can be difficult to do.

The last thing I want you to think about is the fact that we are all flawed. We are not perfect. In order to be effective Christian leaders in today’s world we have to recognize our flaws. None of us have the entire skills or qualities necessary to do everything that needs to be done. We are all flawed and limited. 

True humility is knowing your limitations and knowing that you can’t do everything on your own. When we come together – with the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit– God puts together all of the gifts of the Christian community and things happen! Great things happen because it no longer depends on just you and me anymore, and we begin to depend on God. Perhaps, one of the questions we need to ask ourselves today is: What am I doing to truly recognize Christ-like leadership in myself? At the same time, recognizing that we have many flaws, thus, need to depend on God. Because only God can ultimately do everything that needs to be done.