Since we moved to Alabama nine years ago I have been amazed at the things we see on the lake. Rarely a day goes by that God doesn’t give us a show in nature. As I sit here and watch the pelicans on the lake this morning I’m reminded of our relationship with Christ our leader. These birds always have a leader and they will follow. Some lag behind, some try to get ahead, and others just fill up the middle and ride the waves of those in front working hard to gain elevation to make the flight easier.
Which bird are you today? Are you a leader? John C Maxwell says, “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” Character traits of a good leader are many, but let’s look at a few. Honesty would rank near the top of my chart. We are to be truthful in all we do. Not telling the truth is a violation of one of the ten commandments. Think about it, lies always come to the surface at some point. If you know someone has lied to you it is hard to believe anything they say. Integrity is wrapped up in this leadership quality. If you are a person of integrity you have proven your words are truth. The lead bird must be trusted.
Exodus 20:16a “Thou shalt not bear false”
Do you inspire others? A great part of leadership is to inspire others, so they can do the work and accomplish the goals set before them. Joshua was such a leader. He had the traits we will be talking about today. In Joshua chapter 6, God told Joshua a certain way to assemble the people and have them march around the city for 7 days. The first 6 days were to be done in silence. Can’t you just see this group of people marching around Jericho not saying a word? I’m sure many looked at them as if they were crazy. However, because they trusted their leader they continued. On the 7th day, they were to march around the walls of the city and at the signal break the pitchers that held their light and blow the trumpets. At that point, the great walls of this city came tumbling down! Joshua inspired them to obey.
How is your commitment, and your passion? Do you follow through on what you start? Do you complete the task because you “said you would,” or with passion? Passion makes others feel what you feel. They know you are committed. Your passion is what will drive you to complete the task and make your actions contagious. Paul showed great commitment and passion as he persevered to take the gospel to others. This is an area we must be committed to if we are going to see people come to Christ. It may take many years to win certain people but don’t give up.
Philippians 3:14 “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
How about your communication skills, are you easy to understand, or do you find people always misunderstanding you? A former pastor of ours once said, “Speak not so you can be understood, but speak so that no one can misunderstand you.” A person who heeds this exhortation will be able to lead with confidence, another trait of a good leader. Joshua also proved a good leader in this area. He had confidence in his God and forced the people to make a choice. No one could misunderstand the challenge he was giving.
Joshua 24:15 “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
A good leader must also be able to make decisions. This will be evidenced by the decisions you have made in the past. As I watched the birds fly off, it looked as if they didn’t know where they were going. They flew one way, then circled back and flew another. This continued for a few minutes. I ask my husband what they were doing, and his reply “They are circling to gain elevation this allows them to fly with less effort as the winds carry them.” It was almost funny to watch the ones on the outer edge and the rear try to keep up. Sometimes there would be one that would start to create his own path. He was not paying attention, but then he would realize he was out of sink and would fly as hard as he could to keep up. He completely trusted the leader, or he would not have put forth such an effort to remain in the pack. We can learn from this bird to pay attention to our leader and we will be successful with less effort.
Where are you in the “pack?” All cannot lead, but all good leaders need to have first been good followers. A good follower will pay attention like the birds in the middle they were focused on the one ahead. Those on the outskirts were following but not paying as much attention. It required much more effort for them to follow than it did the others. The one in the rear was following but it didn’t take as much effort because he was drafting off the other bird’s energy. He was not putting forth equal effort but still enjoying the same benefits as the others. Occasionally one would look as if he was trying to get ahead, but no one followed so he would fall back in line.
Each one of these birds represents the way it is in any church. Some lead, some follow, learning all they can, so they can be like Elisha and take up the mantle when it is their turn. Others coast and ride the success of others, but never develop deep commitments to the cause of Christ. Others just aren’t trustworthy and people will not follow. Some get in the middle and never become a leader, but are vital to the cause. They are focused and are the success of any project. You can’t be a good leader without good followers.
Where are you in the pack? Leading, following in the middle, lagging behind, riding the winds of others, or trailing off on your own path, not concerned about others. Everyone fits somewhere.
