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Posted by: ibschonken on Monday, February 03, 2003 - 11:35 AM
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by Iann Schonken
If we truly want to be effective as leaders in this world, we must learn from the Creator. He considered people to be His primary focal point throughout history. Jesus encapsulated the people orientation of His Father in the following statement:
"This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, His one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need to be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn't go to the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. (John 3:16-17; The Message)
Click the read more button for the rest of the letter it is really good
It is so easy to forget that our primary objective as God's ambassadors and leaders is to help people, to put the world right again with its Creator. How often do we jump the tracks by adopting a good orientation at the expense of the best. I know of people who started out great, only to be enticed by one of the following orientations:
1) Profit orientation.
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This is where a pursuit of resources clouds the vision of the leader. Judas Iscariot was rubbing shoulders with the very Son of God who did His servant ministry in a selfless, loving way, only to have his vision clouded by the money and resources under his stewardship. When the woman poured out a fragrant offering on the feet of Jesus, all he could see was about $30,000 (one year's wages in today's terms) running down the feet of Jesus. He missed the prophetic importance and the immensity of this woman's love and devotion to her Lord. This event also triggered his decision to sell out and betray the Lord for money. As leaders, we cannot allow money and resources to become more important than the Lord or the people we are trying to reach.
2.) Project orientation.
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When completing your project becomes more important than your relationship with the Lord, family and friends, a red flag should be raised. Martha was so into her project to "serve the Lord," that she missed the importance of the scene playing out in her living room.
She even questioned the Lord's love and care for her, saying, "Master, don't you care that my sister has abandoned the kitchen to me? Tell her to lend me a hand." (Luke 10:40) She was willing to go to bat for her project to the point of questioning the Lord's loving care and her sister's diligence. She was willing to risk some of her most treasured relationships for the sake of her little domestic "project."
As leaders we need to discern when our project and our need to conscript everyone into helping us successfully complete that project endanger our relationship with God and those we love the most.
3.) Personal Advancement orientation.
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Are you someone who will sacrifice others on the altar of your vision? Most leaders will most vehemently deny such a notion, but are your actions and words leaving the faint but distinctive scent of selfish ambition? Are you still trying to gain a place of prominence and recognition, regardless of the cost to yourself and others? Are you driven to accomplishment, even if it hurts those closest to you? Anyone can fall into this trap!
James and John, Zebedee's sons, approached Jesus with such a personal advancement orientation: "Arrange it," they said, "so that we will be awarded the highest places of honor in your glory--one of us on your right, the other at your left." (Mark 10:35-45)
As the story went, Jesus engaged them with some questions, while the other ten disciples became angrier and angrier. Jesus got them together to settle them down and to restore the proper people orientation: "You've observed how godless rulers throw their weight around," he said, "and when people get a little power how quickly it goes to their heads. It's not going to be that way with you. Whoever wants to be great (personal advancement) must become a servant (people oriented). Whoever wants to be first (personal advancement) among you must be your slave (people orientation). That is what the Son of Man has done (our Godly example): He came to serve (people orientation), not to be served--and then to give away his life in exchange for many who are held hostage.
Were these disciples evil in their desire to be advanced into positions of great honor? Not necessarily. At whose expense, however? They wanted to get ahead of their brothers, by staking their claim first. By implication, they requested positions of honor would exclude their brothers, relegating them to lesser places in God's kingdom. What was a relatively peaceful day, almost turned ugly as their desire for personal advancement drove a wedge between them and the other disciples.
This personal advancement orientation became a corrupting influence, a threat to the unity and effectiveness of Jesus' team. Jesus quickly reoriented his disciples and reestablished a people orientation as superior to a personal advancement orientation.
What often happens is that corrupt leadership will become the force that holds people hostage. The very leadership that was supposed to exist to serve the people, enslave the people as a means to obtain selfish objectives. As the leadership tries to gain personal advancement, they engage in projects which will secure for them greater profits and resources. These resources, in turn, will give them even more personal advancement, which will enable them to promote projects which will help them get more profits to serve their personal agendas. Can you see the vicious cycle? Can you see the victims and people held hostage as these leaders climb higher only to find the ladder they climbed perched against the wrong wall on Judgment Day?
Jesus says that we are to be people oriented, like He was. He came because he cared, not to condemn. He came to show His love for us; He didn't come to label us.
Jesus knew that it was all about people:
1.) He taught them.
2.) He walked with them.
3.) He sought them out. He came to earth when he could have stayed in heaven.
4.) He healed and restored them.
5.) He encouraged them.
6.) He prayed for them.
7.) He gave his life for them.
Jesus led in such a way that people remained the focus of his leadership. He also made sure that he disciples get the same people orientation as part of their training. How are you doing in your position of leadership?
Are you in it for . . .
* Profit,
* Projects,
* Personal advancement, or
* People?
Are you training the leaders under you to have a people orientation also? Jesus did, and we still enjoy the fruit of his training those twelve disciples right. Be sure that this people orientation permeates every part of your area of influence, whether it be in the church or your secular job. The benefits will be out of this world! |
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