Biblical Leadership: God’s Plan for Your LeadershipЗагвар

5. Does Your Leadership Fit What God Wants?

Last time, we looked at what leadership fits you. This time, we will look at the leadership that fits what God wants.

To get started, let’s take a refresh on God’s plan.

The Westminster Catechism, drawn up by our spiritual forefathers in 1647 can help. In modern English, here’s Question & Answer #1 of that statement of faith:

Q; What is the main purpose of humankind?

A: The main purpose of humankind is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever. 

Your main purpose is to glorify God and enjoy Him. It is not to enjoy life, work hard, build things, or even leave a legacy. It is to glorify God and to enjoy Him.

The Bible reaffirms this throughout, starting with this verse we looked at previously;

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.  – 1 Corinthians 10:31

but also these others:

All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, Lord; they will bring glory to your name.  – Psalm 86:9

Then all your people will be righteous and they will possess the land forever. They are the shoot I have planted, the work of my hands, for the display of my splendor.  – Isaiah 60:21

This theme of bringing glory to God runs from the first book in the Bible;

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male & female he created them.  – Genesis 1:27

to the last:

You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being. – Revelation 4:11

There is no doubt that your MAIN PURPOSE here on earth and in your leadership life is to glorify God in all that you do.

So back to the topic of today… your leadership fits what God wants as long as it brings glory to Him.

Of course, we glorify God by doing our best, just like we read last time but there’s more, isn’t there? Yes, there is. And for this, we look to the example of Jesus.

As a leader, Jesus had a demanding schedule. A 3-year, non-stop business trip that took him to all corners of the country to introduce the Kingdom of Heaven and set the stage for the launch of His Church worldwide. A slightly more challenging and busy assignment than any you will ever have!

Against that background, we see Jesus taking time to listen and help even those outside his target audience – the Samaritan woman, the Roman centurion, and others. Jesus always had time for those who needed his help, and by stopping to listen to them, He was bringing glory to God Himself.

The same is true for you today. 

Next to just doing your best, you glorify God by helping to build His Kingdom by stopping to listen and help others along your leadership journey, just as Jesus did.

After all, it’s not all about accomplishing your goals or building up your earthly Kingdom, but about you helping build God’s heavenly Kingdom, right here on earth in the very position He has placed you.

In addition to his examples of stopping to listen & help others, Jesus described what is expected from leadership to his disciples rather succinctly one day:

…whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave – just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.  – Matthew 20:26-28

So what kind of leadership fits God’s Plan for your working life?

Doing your best. Taking time for others, and serving all who God brings across your path. A demanding call, for sure. Building God’s Kingdom may indeed be more difficult than building your own but it is exactly what you are called to.

   

Reflection / Application

1. How are you glorifying God in your leadership today? Can you list some examples from the last week?
2. Can you think of how you might also glorify God in the coming week? What might you do differently to better fulfill your call on this?
3. Building leadership success is hard but rewarding work. Helping to build God’s Kingdom might be even more difficult, but is more rewarding? How does Philippians 4:13 in the New King James version speak to you?