Subscribe to Every Post:Many people have a lot of different opinions and definitions on leadership. I have had my share of thoughts over the years as well. Over the last several years, however, I have landed on a perspective that I believe is consistent with what I read repeatedly in Scripture. I define leadership as the stewardship of godly influence. In other words, God has commissioned his followers to influence people toward him (both believers and unbelievers), and we have a responsibility to make an impact in their lives toward God.
Not only have I landed on this definition, I have also landed on the perspective that God wants all of his followers to be leaders. While some people have specific gifts, skills, and abilities to lead larger groups of people, everyone has been commissioned to lead and influence at least those around them (friends, neighbors, workmates, family members, etc.).
One of the passages I find fascinating on this subject is that Jesus finds some ordinary fisherman who are not only untrained and unschooled in the area of leadership, but who had not even heard the gospel. Jesus gives them a very basic call to the gospel, “come follow me,” and then issues these potentially new converts a call to a life of leadership – influencing others toward God. Notice the passage:
“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!”As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.”Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”At once they left their nets and followed him. (Mark 1:15-18)
As followers of Jesus we are called to follow him, and we are also called to help others follow him (fisher of men). Helping others follow him is called leadership. This kind of leadership does not have much to do about skill and nothing to do about title and position. The best way to help people follow Jesus is by modeling that life and looking for opportunities to explain why you live that way (from Scripture). The beauty of this is that everyone can do this. Therefore, everyone CAN be a leader and is CALLED to be a leader in the world.
Acts 4:13 emphasizes this as well:
“When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.”
People witnessed their character and the power they had in Christ (they had been with Jesus). How are you stewarding this responsibility with those around you? Are you leading and influencing them by how you live? Are you explaining to both believers and unbelievers why you live and follow Jesus during unique windows of opportunities God gives?
Just some thoughts as you ponder the leadership influence God has given you. It is certainly humbling as we will all one day give an account of our leadership.