Proverbs 19:27 (NKJV) Cease listening to instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge.
Effective leaders must demonstrate in their character what President Abraham Lincoln lived out - his life demonstrated a paradoxical mix of humility and resoluteness of will - one of the hallmarks of “Level 5 Leadership” (Good to Great, Collins).
Resoluteness in leading a team – his cabinet – made up of many who opposed him in his bid for the presidency to keep the Union together and emancipate the slaves.
Compassion (expression of humility) demonstrated in his 2nd Inaugural Address when he declared: "With malice toward none; with charity for all" that began the process of healing between the North and the South.
Arrogance (a lack of humility) and compromising principals starts when we stop “listening to instruction” from the Ultimate Instructor. Even when we think God is not listening, and we stop seeing Him, He loves us. He is there. As John Eldredge points out (in Walking with God: Talk to Him. Hear from Him. Really) “Hearing from God flows out of our relationship” – a relationship born of God, given us through the work of Christ and sealed by the Spirit. This relationship is a daily duty to declare our time belongs to Him and we make that real by spending time in His Word.
Think of how many times the Israelites were instructed to replay what God had done for them throughout their history. Think of all the symbols God directed to remind them of His unfailing love. Think of how little the modern executive, small business leader, family leader knows about God’s instructions about avoiding the long and disastrous road of moral comprise.
Discussion Guide
Read Roman 5:1 and Romans 8:38 -39 and discuss how Paul’s assertions about Christ help in our quest to resolute in our learning.
What is the hardest thing with which you struggle in finding time to read Scripture? How does Psalm 63:1 color your thoughts?
What do you do to remind your family of God’s faithfulness?
Do you agree that that the “Bible must be the major business resource when dealing with ethics, leadership, organization behavior and even strategy.” Why or why not? If why, then how?
Copyright ©2009 by P. Griffith Lindell
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thank you very much for commenting - your thoughts are appreciated.