Have you ever gotten back to something? Back the basics. Back to reality. Back to normal. Back to health. Back to school. Back down to earth. In leadership we might go out on a limb, try something new, give an idea a season. But when the result isn’t what we wanted or hoped for, our minds turn to the idea that we “need to get back”. Back, that is, to what worked in the past. Back to the familiar. Back to something more comfortable and reliable that restores our confidence and momentum. When you are returning to an aspect that is foundational, of primary importance, then “going back” is actually “going forward”—there are many instances where getting back to something is the best way to advance a vision or agenda.
Think about, then, what it might mean to return to godly leadership. That is, to abandon any trial priorities we may have adopted for family, company, country or community, and rebuild a foundation of God first in all aspects of life and work. Christians often talk about our nation, our families, our schools, or workplaces “returning to God,” in the sense of reapplying Judeo-Christian values in our daily activities. Before any organization or culture returns to God, though, individual leaders must make this the core of their personal and professional vision. How would we go about this? 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 instructs godly leaders in this way: “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.” With this Scripture in mind, consider:
Returning to heightened awareness. “Be watchful” means to have a keen sense of what is going on around us. Know what is happening in the world and culture. Be attentive to what is happening in your children’s lives, your wife’s day, your community’s news. Gain awareness of world events and be prayerful regarding conflicts and crises as you become informed of them. When it comes to general awareness, most leaders have been lulled to sleep, blissfully unaware of important occurrences in their sphere of influence.
Today nearly 80% of what is reported by major news outlets are lifestyle and entertainment headlines. In a given hour of cable news, just 7 minutes is spent on “hard news”. Consider too the alarming statistic that college-educated fathers spend, on average, just 85 minutes a day with (all of) their children.[1] Jesus wants us to be engaged in our world as faith-centered leaders at home and at work. We cannot do this if our lifestyle simply ignores what happens each day.
Question: Am I aware of what is going on both in the world and in my own home today, and thinking about how I might influence or act to glorify God in the moment?
Returning to a firm stand in faith. “Stand firm in the faith” means a consistent and growing spiritual foundation for your life. To be firm is to be unwavering—not stumbling or easily moved. Be in God’s Word and prayer daily as a first priority. And be united with and active in the community of faith through a local church. In these ways a faith-centered leader will be growing in their knowledge of and trust in God, understanding important doctrines and living out their beliefs in their service to their church family and community.
The average American spends 1,642 hours a year watching TV and 608 hours a year on social media. Then there’s the average 819 hours you’ll spend looking at your smartphone. Spending just 15 minutes a day reading the Bible consumes just 65 hours a year—a fraction of the time spent on other media pursuits. A firm stand in faith starts with a genuine desire to be with God each day. As this most important of relationships grows, you will become equipped as a leader to be unwavering and steadfast in your beliefs and spiritual disciplines.
Question: Am I investing time with God daily in Bible study and prayer, so that I may stand firm as a faith-centered leader?
Returning to strong male leadership. Recently a survey asked men under age 50 what the phrase “Be a man” meant to them. Older men would respond that to “be a man” means to be tough, unafraid, headstrong and to stand for your core beliefs. The survey revealed, however, that younger males identify the phrase “Be a man” with words like stupid, overrated, sexist, derogatory and bulls—t.”[2] In 1 Corinthians 16, this phrase—which only appears this one time in the New Testament—translates to “act like men”, with a sense of responsibility, bravery and courage. In the Bible, we observe men being given the charge to lead, to provide for their families, to protect women and children, to be morally upright and to grow in wisdom.
When it comes to manhood, today’s culture has leaders questioning its very nature, even taking on the characteristics of the female gender if it suits him. God, though, gives us a command that might be summarized in two words: grow up. Biblical manhood is not having a beard and teaching your child the finer points of baseball. Godly male leaders are spiritually strong, desiring to be mentors and upstanding influencers, and at the same time humble in their obedience to Christ and relationships with others. Godly manhood is characterized with words like faithful, honest, loyal, trustworthy, fearless, resolute and tenacious.
Question: Am I living and acting like a man as described in the New Testament?
Returning to lovingkindness. After giving leaders instruction that is headstrong, bold, courageous, 1 Corinthians 16:14 follows with “Let all that you do be done in love.” This is a reflection of God’s nature, where we fear God’s wrath against wrongdoing, but at the same time we rest easy in the knowledge that God loves us wholly and completely. Psalm 17:7 reminds us, “Wondrously show Your lovingkindness, O Savior of those who take refuge at Your right hand from those who rise up against them.”
As faith-centered leaders we should refuse to be moved to sin by those around us, and to act as strong men in the face of challenge and adversity. At the same time though, we should extend lovingkindness to all who are in our sphere of influence. Galatians 5:22-23 instructs us how this will look in our lives and work: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Only a faith-centered leader has the spiritual foundation that allows him to be both resolute in belief and kind in temperament.
Question: Am I treating others with kindness, love, dignity and respect, in spite of where we may disagree or be divided in beliefs or lifestyle?
As a leader, you’re not over a what, but a who. To lead is to influence others in a way that helps them grow personally, professionally and spiritually. Leadership is fundamentally about influencing people.