Leaders face many challenges today. Some of the challenge’s leaders face can come physically, spiritually, emotionally, socially, and mentally. All of these can take a toll on the leader’s health. In this paper I would like to share what I believe are five characteristics of a healthy leader. The health of the leader is one who is willing to look within, live free from the past, considers brokenness as part of God’s design, marked by contentment and joy, and committed to loving and caring for others.
Characteristic 1: A healthy leader is willing to look within
For any leader, it is hard to look within. We are our worst critic. But without looking within we are not able to know what Jesus is wanting to change. As leaders it is important to invite Jesus in to the deepest areas of our life so he can bring awareness and allow Him to renew us. King David said in Psalm 139:23, “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns.” By taking the time to look within and allow Jesus to shine the light on the areas that need to be changed, we open ourselves up to be conformed to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29).
Being willing to look within as a leader it also allows us to heal on a deeper level. There are many layers to our lives. Just like there are many layers to an onion. We have our outer skin that is the most protective layer but as we get closer to people and build trust, we allow them to know that deeper things of who we are. Former United Nations secretary general Dag Hammarskjold once wrote, “The longest journey of any person is the journey inward.”
Characteristic 2: A healthy leader is living free from the past
“How long will you hang on to the past?” This is a question I personally ask myself on a regular basis. Another question that I follow up with that is, “will you allow the past to keep you bitter or allow it to make you better?” Living free from the past does not mean that you no longer have memory of what happened. Living free from the past means that you are walking in newness of life. The Apostle Peter says it well that because of God’s great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope. We can live free from of the past because we have a living hope that only comes from God through his Son. As a leader who is living free from the past allows you to see things from a different perspective. You no longer allow the past to tell you who you will be but allow God to speak identity over you. As a leader in order to live free from that past you might have to plant new roots so that there can be new fruit. Plant your roots in one “who chose you from the beginning, sanctified you through the work of the Spirit and in the one who sprinkled you with the blood of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:1-2).
Characteristic 3: A healthy leader is one considers brokenness as God’s design
The trials we face are orchestrated by God. As a leader when we lead in brokenness, it helps us as leaders to remember that there are others who are walking through pain and hurts. When a leader considers brokenness as a God’s design it takes us from being inwardly focused to being more aware of what is happening outwardly. The Apostle Paul spoke that it was in his weakness that he was made strong. Not a strength that was his own but a strength that was through God alone. When we as leaders consider and lead through brokenness and remind ourselves that we too are broken like everyone else; is the starting point for true change to begin. God wants to dance with His leaders who are shattered and broken before him. “The extent to which I am in touch with my “lostness” and brokenness is the extent to which I grasp the glory of the gospel and am able to revel in the Father’s love.”
Characteristic 4: A healthy leader is marked by contentment and joy
As leaders we look to what others are doing and compare how we are doing based on others results. God never called us to be cookie cutter or a copycat of someone else’s ministry. God has called the leader to be yourself. God is too calling the local body of believers to stay in their lane. Do what you do best with excellence. Be content with the programs that you have available but not without evaluation to see if they align with the mission, vision, and the core values of the church. A leader that is marked by contentment and joy, will celebrate all that God is doing where they are called.
Characteristic 5: A healthy leader is committed to loving and caring for others
Even though this is the last characteristic, in my opinion it is the greatest that any leader can have. The leader who commits to love and care for others creates a place where all are welcome just the way they are and allows for the Holy Spirit to do what only He can do in the hearts of those who experience the ministry. A commitment to love and care for others stretches near and far. As close as the neighbor who lives next door to the strategic partner (missionary) who is overseas in another country committed to loving and caring for unreached people groups. Commitment to love and care for others shows too that the leader is willing to be a servant-leader; one who is outward focused and willing to join forces with other believers to reach the lost within their city or region.
Now that you have read these five characteristics, I hope that you see that the health of the leader is important and that you will take the time to look within, live free from your past, be vulnerable and consider that brokenness is part of God’s design, be content and joyful in all that you do, and that you commit to loving and caring for those who God places in your path.
Bibliography
Christian Standard Bible. Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017.
Scazzero, Peter. The Emotionally Healthy Church. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2010.
Comments
Post a Comment