5 Values Of A Life-giving LeaderSample

The life-giving leader believes the best is yet to come. Leaders learn from the past, but they don’t live in it. In today’s passage, Philippians 3:13, the Apostle Paul tells us about the direction of the life of a leader: forward. Leaders move forward because they are hopeful and excited about “what is ahead!” They are not distracted by “what is behind.” They are focused on what is in front of them. 

The Apostle Paul commonly used running as an illustration. Every runner knows that when you’re running a race you can’t keep looking over your shoulder. What happens? You might get distracted or fall. The only way to run a race is to forget what is behind and strain toward what is ahead. 

These two steps are essential in running. They are also essential in leadership. The reason that leaders want to move forward is because the best is yet to come. Leaders are not stuck in the past and they don’t just daydream about the future. Leaders keep moving forward to bring about what God has called them to do.  

How do we move forward in our leadership journey? The Apostle Paul gives us two ways to move forward as leaders. The first thing leaders do to move forward is “forgetting.” The second thing leaders do to move forward is “straining.” We forget what is behind us. It might be our pain or problems. It might be our past success or position. Instead, we should strain toward what is ahead. Life-giving leaders are focused and productive because the best is yet to come.