I Googled It

Leadership?

Yes, please.

And so I Googled it. “Books on leadership”. And guess what didn’t appear? The Bible.

Did God delegate the definition of great leadership to business or military minds? Did He run out of time to help guide us toward effective and wise and thoughtful leadership?

Certainly, we see living examples in scripture. Women and men who model both the wisdom and character to lead. But what about a working definition?

Then, as I was spending time reading and reflecting this week, I read through the words of James the Just, the brother of Jesus and the leader of the Jerusalem church.

Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.

The meekness of wisdom?
True wisdom births humility. And humility births wisdom. Arrogance is the enemy of wisdom. Proud leaders become dictators, not shepherds.

But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.

Jealousy and selfish ambition yields disorder?
If my highest agenda is personal accomplishment and praise, then division… chaos… confusion… terror. Selfishness is incompatible with good, lasting, and Godly leadership. Jealousy may fuel competition, but it will never ignite lasting victory.

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.

Pure. Peaceable. Gentle. Open to reason. Full of mercy. Impartial. Sincere.
Hold on. Wait. This can’t be. Where are words like gifted? Decisive? Courageous? Smart? Educated? Strategic? Visionary? Winsome? Inspiring?

Those words aren’t unimportant, but they must submit and serve the words that James preaches.

But clearly, James is not speaking into the current string of Campaign ads.

Think of it. “Vote for Dan Wolgemuth – he’s the gentle candidate”. Okay, how about… “Elect Dan, he’s merciful and impartial”. What about, “Mark your ballot for Dan, he’s humble and open to reason?” “Wolgemuth, the sincere candidate”.

Good luck with that… but what if?

And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Sown in Peace?
Not the absence of conflict, but the presence of Christ. Not unrealistic optimism, but anchored hope.

And then. Only then. Surely then… a harvest of righteousness.

Good to great to Godly…

And just so you know, the message above is not a megaphone, it’s a mirror. An awakening of sorts. For every and any environment that I steward. These words are for me. For us.

Timeless truth. Transforming truth. Treasured truth.

A harvest of righteousness.

I vote for that.