Leaders – whether in a family, classroom, team, workplace, government, or church – have a tremendous impact. It might not always seem like it – just ask the parent of a strong-willed child or the supervisor of a chronically late employee how influential they feel – but it is true. Would the Spirit inspire the Apostle Paul to write, “Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged” unless parents have real influence (Col. 3:21)? So, it is not a question of if we have influence but of how we are using it.
“Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher,” Jesus preached (Lk. 6:39-40). Intentionally (and sometimes unintentionally), leaders set a tone that others emulate. If a company’s executives frequently make sudden demands with deadlines of “yesterday”, that style of corporate firefighting can easily cascade throughout the organization. A church’s leaders can regularly urge everyone to pray, be encouragers, and share their faith – but they will make little headway in changing the culture without personally modeling those behaviors. “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ,” Paul wrote (1 Cor. 11:1).
Centuries before Israel’s first king was ever anointed, Moses commanded him to copy the Law by hand to read throughout his life “that he may learn to fear the LORD his God by keeping all the words of this law and these statutes, and doing them” (Deut. 17:18-20). God knew that the leader’s heart for Him would influence the whole nation. “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD…The king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength…Our soul waits for the LORD; He is our help and our shield” (Ps. 33:12, 16, 20). When a king like David who truly loved God reigned, the whole nation followed his lead and consequently enjoyed rest and abundance (cf. 2 Sam. 7:1, 2 Kgs. 18:1-8, 2 Chr. 14:1-8). Yet when a wicked king reigned, the people followed his lead, too, spelling disaster for everyone (cf. 2 Kgs. 17:7-23, 21:1-9).
So, in whatever capacity God has assigned you to lead: watch your tone. The things you say and the way you say them, the priorities you set and the way they show in your behavior: they will impact everyone around you. May we as Christian leaders use that influence well – and all for God’s glory.
Our world is in desperate need of good leadership. If we will look to God, He will teach us how to lead! Learn with us!