Leadership AwakeningSample

Why so many Tragic Endings?

In order to finish the race you have started, you need to maintain vision. It is essential to keep your mind focused on the finish line. Effective leaders are able to maintain their vision, hope, and passion. It is easy to understand that you cannot maintain your focus and passion for just a few seconds and then expect to win. You must keep the flame alive consistently and intentionally! 

A large percentage of Christian leaders do not finish the race well because they stumble upon the enemy’s traps. There are common traps in six areas that many leaders have not been successful in avoiding: 

1. Finances

2. Power

3. Pride

4. Sexual temptation

5. Family issues

6. Loss of spiritual momentum.

But unfortunately, leaders do not only face these obstacles along the way. Discouragement is a factor that causes leaders to stumble into many of these specific pitfalls. Some leaders become disillusioned, disappointed, or distracted along the way. I would say that it is very hard to stay focused in the race once you open the door to discouragement. 

In many cases, leaders get into trouble because they neglect fundamental truths and basic spiritual disciplines. In fact, Jesus gives us a number of illustrations to help us be aware of the dangers we may face in our Christian walk:

1. The example of the house not built on the rock.

2. The example of the person who builds a tower.

3. The example of the king that goes to war against another king.

We can read countless books on leadership and theology, and attend the latest conferences and seminars on how to build a successful organization. But you and I know very well that in the final analysis, our success or failure as leaders will be determined by how well we executed the basics of Christian life – prayer, fasting, Bible study, and fellowship with other believers. 

The good news is that it is never too late! No matter how poorly things may have been for you in the past, God can turn things around in the blink of an eye—you just have to get back to the basics!

Provoke-A-Thought:

Are you planning your life and your personal daily schedule considering the basic Christian disciplines that will allow you to finish your race well?