What Is A Leader?

The calling to be a leader is often realized by others. There are those, who without trying are leaders. They just do what they feel they should be doing (whether right or wrong) and others follow. There are those, who though called to be leaders, struggle to fill the calling that God has placed on them.

It doesn’t matter so much whether you are a natural leader or a leader that struggles to lead, each have many lessons to learn in the leadership that God has called them to. Both types of leaders are susceptible to falling to self and either taking their followers with them or leaving them behind. (Later) Should the leader(s) fall to self, something ugly tends to rise in the form of rebellion or mutiny and the place that God has intended for them becomes a ghastly portrayal of leadership. It is hollow, and empty and many times gives rise to “the spirit of Jezebel”.

So how would God have him lead?

1. Understanding your calling

a. The calling to be a leader originates with God

b. Faithfulness within the calling is a must

2. Leading with Purpose

a. Knowing what purpose the calling holds

b. Understanding that the purpose doesn't serve yourself

3. Leading with Carefulness

a. Remembering the calling is not to be a dictator

4. Leading with Humility

a. Knowing how to put others first

A lot of times when we think of leadership, we think of authority. Unfortunately there are times when the said authorities have abused their calling, and become dictators instead of servants of humanity. Hitler, Stalin, Lenin, and many others in history past are examples (even extreme examples) of an abusive leadership/authority.

God has designated governments as protectors of the righteous and has given them the authority to carry out the earthly penalty for evil doers.

When it comes to the place that personal agenda trumps the calling, it has become a selfish dictatorship carrying only the interests of the "leader and/or the party they are courting". This becomes a truly selfish "leadership".

Note: While the examples have been on the spectrum of national leadership, the truth is that many of us in our own much smaller zones of leadership have created in a sense the same types of selfish dictatorship. While we may not be a Stalin or a Hitler we somehow feel vindicated in our own selfish type of "leadership".

Remember as a leader, you have been called to be a servant of humanity.

#leaders