LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLE THE SECOND MAN TEACHES Raymart Lugue Leadership is action, not position. I first heard this principle when I was a High School student, serving as the Governor of the Supreme Student Government of Adamson University. Our adviser, Dr. Ellen Estares, was very diligent in imparting this truth in our hearts as student leaders. She taught us that we don t need to wait for the top position in order for us to start leading or influencing other people. In the corporate world, everyone wants to be the chief executive officer. The trend of today s society is to be number 1. This is not surprising because even the prince of this world had the same desire prior to his fall: I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High (Isaiah 14:13-14). The Kingdom of God, however, operates on a different set of values. The disciples once asked Jesus who shall be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. He answered them: If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all (Mark 9:35). One night before the feast of the Passover, Jesus Christ painted the best portrait of leadership. When He entered the room full of people whom He trained for approximately three years, He didn t walk as someone who was greater than any of them: Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded (John 13:3-5). God s idea of leadership is service. It is never a position that will elevate someone above everybody else, but an opportunity to serve other people with selflessness and humility. God desires His people to have authority or dominion to rule and lead His creation (Genesis 1:28).
God s School of Leadership God has always been in a worldwide search for people whom He can enroll to His school of leadership. Since the corporate world s idea of leadership is different from God s idea, the training He provides is entirely unique. One of the most remarkable ways through which God trains His students is placing them in a position that will teach them submission. Before Moses became the top leader of approximately 6 million Hebrews, he first learned how to submit himself to the leadership of Pharaoh as one of princes of the kingdom. God even brought him to a wilderness to build a family and to keep a flock through which He learned how to be faithful. He was first a 360-degree leader. It took him 40 years in Egypt, and 40 years in the wilderness to be humble and prepared enough to lead God s people for 40 years toward the Promised Land. Before Samuel became one of the greatest prophets of Israel, he first learned how to submit himself to his mother, and to Eli, the high priest. It is also remarkable how Samuel remained humble even after hearing the call of God upon his life: And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the Lord (I Samuel 3:15). Before David became the king of Israel after God s own heart, he first submitted himself to the leadership of his father, Jesse, and his predecessor, Saul. He learned humility and submission by running from the spears of Saul, and hiding inside the caves in the coolness of countless nights. He was first a 360-degree leader: And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and behold, he keepeth the sheep (I Samuel 16:11). But David went and returned from Saul to feed his father s sheep at Bethlehem (I Samuel 17:15) And there was a javelin in Saul s hand. And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice... And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways... (I Samuel 18:10-14)
The voice that cried in the wilderness, John the Baptist, spent most of his life in the wilderness as a Nazarite. He submitted himself to a vow that made him live a simple life, and a lifestyle set apart for God (Matthew 3:4). God prepared him to become the greatest man who will prepare the way of the Messiah. The process of humbling John didn t fail and the results were when he acknowledged Christ as someone greater than him: I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear (Matthew 3:11a) He must increase and I must decrease (John 3:30) The list can go on and on. God trains and prepares people for leadership by letting them go through situations where their spirit will be refined. Men look on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart (I Samuel 16:7). The greatest training we can receive for leadership is not the training of our heads, but the refining of our hearts. We can never expect God to trust us with great things if we will not be found faithful over small things (Matthew 25:23). Pitfall in Leadership The given examples attest to the fact that pride is one of the main reasons why God places us in a 360- degree position. An author once commented on the life of John Dowie: The greatest test of a leader is not in the area of persecution, though many fall there. I think one of the greatest snares comes in the form of power and success. There are valuable lessons that we can learn from being a 360-degree leader. Being on the top without passing through these situations is a dangerous path. I observed the following repercussions if pride takes place in our leadership: 1. People will be driven, not drawn. Jesus said, if I be lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men unto me (John 12:32). If spiritual leaders will fail to exalt Jesus in their ministries, people will not be drawn to God. Excellent programs may drive or force them for a moment, but without a Christ-centered atmosphere, people will soon move away.
God invested an incredible power on His name. When two or three are gathered together in His name, Jesus is in the midst of them (Matthew 18:20). If we will ask anything in Jesus name, He will do it (John 14:14). Surely, Jesus wants to move in our ministries. However, this will not happen if we will exalt ourselves in our ministries instead of lifting up the name of Jesus. 2. People will be drained, not empowered. Leaders filled with pride have an approach to leadership based on the military model of barking orders to weak underlings. This type of approach drains the passion of the people if they exist just to serve the personal agenda of who is on the top. When people begin to realize that their efforts are primarily for the haughty agenda of their leader, they will soon move away from the leadership. Contrariwise, Jesus model of leadership tells us that we must care for others more than for ourselves. Leadership must enrich everyone, not just those at the top. 3. Leadership will be lifeless. Leaders with a haughty spirit do not listen to others comments or suggestions. If they do, they soon turn it down and impose that their ideas are much better than the others. If this happens, the people lose their value in the ministry or organization. When this happens, the people stop to bring fresh ideas which could bring revival to the ministry or to the organization. Another indication of pride is the absence of ability to ask for forgiveness in times of mistakes. Because expressing apology could bring a feeling of inferiority, proud leaders do not bother saying sorry when they commit mistakes. This is detrimental to leadership because it damages the relationship between the leader and the people. Leadership without healthy relationships is lifeless and will not therefore produce life. Christ s Perfect Example The greatest lesson that we can ever learn from being a 360-degree leader is to be a person of humility. Gentleness, like snow, beautify everything it covers. A meek spirit is a precious ornament that we can display in our ministries and leadership.
Let us learn from the example of Jesus Christ, the greatest leader of all times. One his most obvious leadership characteristic is humility. In Philippians 2:7-8, Paul says: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Conclusion Paul admonishes us that nothing must be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind (Philippians 2:3). A man s pride will bring him low; but honor shall uphold the humble in spirit (Proverbs 29:23).