The Maxwell Leadership Reading PlanSample

The Law of Solid Ground: Good Leaders Remove the Planks from Their Eyes

The entire first chapter of Amos and part of the second details God’s judgment on Israel’s neighbors. No doubt Israel enjoyed these words. They likely cheered Amos on, yelling, “Preach it, brother! Those heathen nations really need to get their act together!”

Once Amos finished with Damascus, Gaza, Tyre, Edom, Ammon, and Moab, however, he directed his words closer to home—to Judah. Now his listeners probably squirmed. Finally, Amos dropped the bomb and declared judgment on Israel. Everyone grew quiet. How dare Amos lump them into God’s judgment!

Quality leaders remain objective. They can be trusted because they see the “plank in their own eye” before trying to remove the speck from their brother’s (Matt. 7:3–5). When leaders fail to be objective, people begin to question whether their perspective is skewed by self-interest. Trust wanes. People trust leaders who practice the Law of Solid Ground. Such leaders fulfill three primary objectives:

1. Protection: To make sure the people are defended from harm.
2. Provision: To make sure the people are resourced to do their work.
3. Progress: To make sure the enterprise reaches the desired destination.