Confidence in Leadership
This, the last in a series on Christian Leadership, deals with confidence as we lead God's people. May I remind you that we are all leading someone somewhere. Take stock of your leadership skills. Step out--and lead.
A leader must have a proper evaluation of himself. I Corinthians 15:9, 10 says, “For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.”
Paul realized his position as the least of the apostles. Where does that put us? Yes, God has called us to be leaders, but we must have an accurate perception of who we are in God’s sight. He is the standard by which we must measure ourselves. The leader is not superior to his follower, and he is certainly not superior to the one he follows, the God of Heaven.
Paul was able to look back over his life and take proper evaluation of who he was, and where he was going. He realized he persecuted God’s church. He realized he was the “chiefest of sinners.” He also realized that it was God's plan to use him in leadership. The key to his realization was God’s grace.
Only by God’s grace have we been saved—which we do not deserve. Only by God’s grace can we live a life that pleases God—which we do not deserve. Only by God’s grace can we lead others to follow the God of Heaven—which we do not deserve.
Paul humbled himself beneath the cross of Christ and as a result, he was able to labor more abundantly than the others. That qualified him as a leader. Anything that he was able to accomplish was because of Christ, not because of himself.
Paul was sure of who he had. As a leader you must be sure of who you have. Romans 8:38, 39—“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Paul was sure he could depend on God. He knew that nothing could separate him from His love. With God’s assurance Paul could do anything, go anywhere, and accomplish the work of God. Paul was no one special. We have the same assurance. We can lead as confidently as did the Apostle Paul. We have the presence of God all the time “…I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee….” (Hebrews 13:5b; Deteronomy 31:8).
Leadership must be confident. It must be based on the fact that the leader knows where he is going and who is guiding him. He must trust the direction that he is given and step out to accomplish the will of his Father. People will follow the leader only if they feel safe. If there is doubt in the leader, there will be doubt in the follower. Know your God and follow Him completely.
Even in the realm of leadership God uses people. You will not know everything. Choose your counselors well—ones that you know will lead you aright. Proverbs 11:14--“Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.”
There is no shame in getting advice. Just be sure that the counsel you get is God speaking through the counselor. Give your counselor enough information to make wise decisions and do not shade the facts to favor your own bias.
Be absolutely sure what you are doing and why. Then do it.
