5 Values Of A Life-giving LeaderSýnishorn

The life-giving leader goes above and beyond. In today’s passage, Daniel 6:3, the first thing we learn from Daniel is that going above and beyond is a leadership choice. Notice the verse says that he “so distinguished himself.” He was not naturally distinguishing, and he did not wait for other people to recognize him. 

In other words, leaders are built not born. Instead, Daniel had to choose to go above and beyond when God gave him opportunities. He responded by standing out among his peers, “the administrators and the satraps.” It is easy to be average. He chose not to be average by developing “exceptional qualities.” Leadership is about who we are, not just what we do. Daniel went above and beyond because he was improving himself and becoming exceptional. 

The result of going above and beyond are new leadership responsibilities that previously seemed out of reach. For Daniel, he was given an extraordinary leadership responsibility: “the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.”  

If we are excited to make a difference and want more leadership responsibility, what should we do? This passage teaches us to (1) choose to distinguish ourselves, (2) develop our exceptional qualities, and (3) commit to using our new influence to advance God’s Kingdom.