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In our culture many
Christian business leaders have compartmentalized their lives, separating the
secular workplace from their Christian values. A kingdom-focused leader understands
that it is essential to live God-honoring, Christ-centered, Bible-based values
in every aspect of life, including the workplace. Brad
is a kingdom-focused leader in Kentucky who works as a corporate trainer for a
Fortune 500 company. He is active in his church and community and committed to
living his life in the world according to biblical standards. He was surprised
to hear that Zack, the broker who handled his investment and retirement accounts,
was involved in an adulterous affair with another employee and was in the process
of divorcing his wife. Brad and Zack go to the same church and interact in social
circles in the community. Brad
made an appointment with Zack and informed him that he was moving his accounts
to another brokerage. Zack was stunned that Brad would do this and asked him why.
Brad said, "Because you are involved in an affair and have left your wife
and daughter." Zack explained that what was going on in his personal life
did not affect his professional life, and he assured Brad that he could trust
that his finances would be in good hands. Brad responded by saying, "If I
can't trust you to be faithful to your wife, I certainly can't trust you with
my money." For Brad, it was a matter of character. What would happen in our
culture if kingdomfocused leaders lived by that kind of standard and expected
other believers to be accountable to the same values? Portraits
of Leadership Character Kingdom
leaders are teachers. They are mentors — wise and trusted counselors to
those who follow them. They help students establish standards of personal discipline
and are patient in giving instruction. Teachers have the gift ability to absorb
and process information, and they never tire of learning. Throughout their lives,
they continue to learn from everyone and every circumstance they encounter as
they prepare the next generation to lead. A
picture is worth a thousand words. Like points on the leadership compass, kingdom
leaders can gain further insights into their roles by focusing on the rich analogies,
the word pictures, the New Testament provides to enlighten and guide. In 2 Timothy
2:3-6, the apostle Paul presented three word pictures of kingdom leaders that
illustrate different sets of character requirements. Kingdom
leaders are comparable to soldiers. As troops in the field suffer hardship,
so do leaders on the figurative field of battle. Business is filled with war metaphors,
and the parallels are significant. Soldiers are not overwhelmed by adversity because
they expect and have planned how to meet it. Soldiers are focused and disciplined;
they submit to authority going where assigned and doing as ordered. True leaders
have the same resolve and resiliency whatever the nature of their job. Kingdom
leaders have much in common with athletes. They compete according to the
rules, even though compliance makes winning harder. To win fairly under the authority
of a judge or referee, athletes discipline themselves and train rigorously. Great
leaders follow God's rules, knowing they will one day give an account to God for
their calling to lead. A famous golfer was disqualified as the leader in a tournament
because he neglected to take a penalty stroke on a hole. He didn't follow the
rules. In I Corinthians 9:24-27, Paul uses this athlete metaphor and ends with
why it is important to be disciplined so as not to be disqualified: Do
you not know that the runners in a stadium all race, but only one receives the
prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Now everyone who competes exercises
self-control in everything. However, they do it to receive a perishable crown,
but we an imperishable one. Therefore I do not run like one who runs aimlessly,
or box like one who beats the air. Instead, I discipline my body and bring it
under strict control, so that after preaching to others, I myself will not be
disqualified.
Kingdom
leaders are like farmers. Successful farmers prepare well, plowing, planting,
fertilizing, and caring for the crops as they grow. They work hard, knowing the
requirements of their work day and night, summer and winter. Yet farmers are patient.
They must wait for the rain, watch the rising and falling of the market, nurture
the crop, and harvest in season. And they must seize the opportune moment, changing
their plans quickly and confidently to respond to changing conditions in the weather,
the markets, or other variables. Kingdom leaders also need to prepare, be patient,
work hard, and remain flexible. A dear friend farmed over two thousand acres in
Oklahoma for many years. I asked how he could keep farming. He replied, "It's
the hope of the harvest that keeps me going from year to year." This
has presented a kaleidoscopic view of biblical attributes of the kingdom leader's
character. Character comes as a result of trials in the life of the leader. But
kingdom leaders are never alone. They experience the power of God in their lives.
As a result of salvation in Jesus Christ, God's call to leadership, and His work
in the leader to develop character, the leader grows spiritually. This growth
prepares the leader to be useful to God as "a special instrument, set apart,
useful to the Master, prepared for every good work" (2 Tim. 2:21). ___________________ Excerpted
from The Kingdom Focused Leader by Michael D. Miller (Nashville: Broadman
& Holman Publishers, 2004). Used by permission. Click
here to learn more about this and other resourses. ___________________ Michael
D. Miller is an author and director of Church Relations for LifeWay Christian
Resources in Nashville, TN. | 