Biblical Leadership: One Word For Your SuccessSample

5. “R” is for Responsible to others.

We have reached the end of our first 5-letter guide to boosting our leadership success based on principles found in the Bible.

For the letter “R” in the word “NICER”, we look at the idea of being “Responsible to others.” 

As leaders, most of us prefer our messages direct and to the point. Apparently one of the teachers of the law in Jesus day thought so too:

One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”

“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: .”… Love the Lord your God …and love your neighbor as yourself.”  – Mark 12:28-31

Love God is #1. 

Love your neighbor is #2. 

All the other commands and instructions in the Bible are secondary to these.

Almost immediately, this raised the question of who is our neighbor? Jesus answers this with the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:29-37. 

In that parable, a Jewish man lies injured on the side of the road, having been attacked by robbers. A Jewish priest comes by, but does not stop to help. Neither does the Jewish temple worker (a Levite) passing by. 

Although it would seem that both the priest and temple worker should have some responsibility to stop and help, it is not until a Samaritan – an unclean foreigner to the Jews – stops to help the injured Jewish man.

Jesus’s point of the parable is that the Samaritan is the only one showing love to his neighbor – and Jesus commands us to do likewise.

So what does this mean for you in your leadership position today?

The first lesson is that of the priest and temple worker. Just as they should have stopped to help, so should you help those on your team or in your organization when they are in need of help. That much is clear, even without the parable.

But the second lesson of the parable is where Jesus makes his point. Jesus instruction is to also show kindness to those outside your team or organization – even your competitor or internal adversary.

After all, you might be the only Christian to come alongside them in times of difficulty – work difficulties, financial stress, marital issues, suicide or other. It’s not possible to outsource these acts of kindness to your pastor or other church member. Like the Good Samaritan, you’re the one called to help – not somebody else.

How well you “love your neighbor” – especially those outside your area of responsibility – may be the best measure of how well you are following the 2nd-greatest command in the entire Bible.

Being “Responsible to others” is no easy concept, but it’s where the rubber really meets the road.

Not sure you can handle that? The read this:

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.  – Philippians 4:13 NKJV 

Reflection / Application

1. Have you gone out of your way to help someone outside your team or organization? How did that go?
2. It can be uncomfortable when we encounter someone in need – our normal leadership confidence may evaporate quickly and we’re not quite sure what to say or do. Can you relate to that? 
3. As leaders, we often fly solo and don’t rely on others. The command to love our neighbor may take you out of your comfort zone, and this is where praying and gathering with other Christians to encourage each other is good. Are you in a small group to help with this? Should you be?