This article is one in a series on 8 “P”s of the gospel introduced in Genesis 1-2. You can refer to the introductory video and links to additional videos for more specific explanations. Each article contrasts a foundational part of the good news in Jesus with an appealing but destructive counterfeit. My intent is to equip and encourage you to follow Christ by faith for greater joy in Him through the relationships God has given you at home, work, and leisure.
Part 1 of each is to help us love God and others in that foundational area as a leader. Part 2 is to help us do the same as a counselor. I’m defining leadership as simply helping others follow us toward a good goal, namely to follow Christ by faith in Him. Counseling is equally simple: helping others who are wayward or stuck to get back on track toward that same good goal.
Anyone is position of responsibility to care for others is under a tremendous load. Parents must choose goals and means that to shape their children’s lives. Supervisors spend as much or more time with their employees than those workers’ families do and, therefore, have a powerful impact on them. Formal coaches or informal mentors serve as role models held to higher standards, whether they want to be or not, and whether they live up to them or not.
Positions of leadership may seem glorious to those who aren’t in those positions yet. And leading others can absolutely be rewarding. Watching our people grow in wisdom, ability, blessing to others in their own spheres of influence, and more is thrilling to any good leader. But more often leadership is just hard.
The presence of Christ as described in the several videos I’ve provided answers several specific questions for leaders: Why would God help me as a leader? When can I expect Him to come to me? How should I be leading? And what results will I see when I lead? Let’s take those one at a time with enough specifics for you to make applications in your own situations.
Why would God help me as a leader?
Even for those of us who trust in Jesus because of His Spirit living in each of us, our human nature is still corrupted and tempts us to self-focused pride in our perceived accomplishments or fear of our many failures. And we think God reasons as we do, so we often feel that God will come to our aid if we’ve earned it. But in Isaiah 55:8-9, the Lord tells us to rest in His completely sacrificial love “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.” And He’s not thinking on subjects of higher sciences or abstract philosophies. The context clearly shows that He’s talking about His forgiveness and commitment to His people because of His eternal blood-of-the-Savior-soaked covenant as promised to David (Isaiah 55:1-7, Matthew 1:1, 21:9, Mark 12:35, Luke 1:32, Acts 13:22-23, etc.).
We overlay our thoughts on the Lord and assume that “God helps those who help themselves”, which is not in His Word, by the way. Or “Once I get my act together, then the Lord will be proud of me and help me.” This latter view is prevalent among those who’ve had an over-critical parent or absent parent, especially if that was their father. Basically, we see the Father as we see our father: watching to see if we’re worthy. But that’s not how God leads in love. The Light of the first day of creation clearly show His covenant presence coming to the unworthy. How can this be? Because of the price Jesus paid on the cross to establish the worth of all who follow Him by faith in Him. And it’s crucial that we see the sequence. We wrongly think God’s love for us is a quid pro quo in which we must do for Him first. But dead people can’t do anything.(Mark 2:15-17, Romans 5:10, Ephesians 2:1-10, Colossians 2:13, etc.). Human nature’s self-talk says “God will help me if I…” God’s Word says “Jesus will help me because He…”
This frees us by taking the focus off leadership for our possible success and puts it on His leadership for His certain love: His love for us that, by the supernatural work of His Spirit, transforms our leadership our resting, praising, thankful love for Him.
If, even with very small faith, you rest in the work of Jesus on the cross for the full punishment of all your sins, picture His loving nail-scarred hands holding you securely by His love, although you are a mere baby, helpless, soiled, even kicking and screaming many times. Your worth is not in your worthiness but in price He paid for you.
This frees every leader who trusts Jesus – even faint-heartedly – to rest in knowing that the Lord loves them.
When can I expect Him to come to me?
How should I be leading?
And, finally, what results will I see when I lead?
Unless otherwise indicated, Jeff Dillard is the author of all posts in this blog, the goal of which is your greater joy in Christ through leadership and counseling. Jeff and his wife, Lauren, have been married since 1995. By God’s grace, they have four wonderful children and two grandchildren. Jeff was ordained by the Presbyterian Church in America and commissioned as an Army Chaplain in 1998. He has Master’s degrees in Divinity, History, and Counseling. Since 1998, he’s had the privilege of equipping and encouraging others’ faith and service to the Lord Jesus by leading congregations and counseling in multicultural settings across the United States. Seven of those years have been in Germany, Korea, and Iraq. For leisure, Jeff enjoys simple time with his family, exercise, playing guitar and trumpet, and trying foreign foods with friends.
Please note that the contents of tools4trenches do not necessarily reflect specific beliefs or practices of organizations in which Jeff works or worships.
tools4trenches 