Pursue your Potential
Five Attributes That Make Christians Great Leaders
Embrace them, build them, and bless others with them
Perhaps the greatest gift we can give someone in a conversation, whether we say it out loud or to ourselves is…What can I learn from you today?
As servant leaders, we desire for our actions to be authentic, genuinely caring, and offer a deep desire to give. We understand this kind of leadership is not about us, but rather about us helping others pursue their potential, first by listening, then reflecting, and finally responding.
So, the next time you find yourself across the table, screen, or phone beginning a conversation, ask, “What can I learn from you today?,” and remember doing so will tune you to listen and invite them to share. What happens next will reflect genuine leadership!
Consider for a moment. Who comes top of mind when you think of a great leader? Is it Dr. Martin Luther King, a parent, a teacher, a boss, a disciple, a president, or perhaps you speak the obvious and go with Jesus?
Regardless of who you select, my guess is you conclude this decision less on what they achieved and more on how they achieved it. Character, values, relationships, love, empathy, and more. You can order a plethora of books, watch hours of video, and read countless blogs on leadership, but without possessing these five attributes, your ability to lead as a Christian will never be the same.
Humility
Humble leaders speak without the need to talk. They possess, obtain, and are willing to surrender. This kind of leader understands they have a teachable spirit to reject pride, tuning out the whispers of deception that strive to lull away from growth and back into worldly contentment.
A mindset encouraging belief that:
- I can handle this on my own.
- I am smart; what could _____ teach me that I do not already know?
- Not now, but maybe in the future I’ll try that.
- My way is proven and, therefore, best.
Simply put, humility leads us to surrender to, and seek, the will of God. We become open to the idea of reframing our thoughts, rewiring our minds, replacing our words and actions.
“Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’ Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you.” (1 Peter 5:6, ESV)
I recently watched a friend of mine, who was suffering from a health condition, allow her pride to lead her decisions. Work became too much, and she needed to step away.
Softly, but confidently, I shared, “What you are going through is challenging, painful, and perhaps unfair. What you choose to do next will decide how long you stay in that state.”
She decided to surrender and allow others to help, immediately shortening the period of her suffering state. I am confident this brought great joy to God as it glorified Him, and it brought a great blessing to all of us who have been able to lean in and help.
Be humble by letting go and letting God!
Integrity
Without humility, the next four things will never occur. Our hearts have to be right to receive and share the rest.
What comes to your mind when you think of this next attribute, integrity? Perhaps honesty, morals, maybe “who you are when no one else is watching.” All true. Yet, there is a story that spoke to me on the topic of integrity, especially aiming to do what is honorable to God and others.
In 1985, the great baseball pitcher Tom Seaver was on the verge of winning his 300th game, which few pitchers have done. He went over to his 9-year-old daughter in the box seats and said excitedly, “Three more outs to go!”
She responded, “Good, then we can go home and go swimming.” (Newsweek, 1/20/1992, p. 47)
Yeah, there is humility there for sure. But this exchange strengthened Tom in other ways too. If he applied what she said in the future, he honored her by learning, desiring to be better, and accepting three messages from his daughter:
- I do not want to be here, yet I am here because I love you.
- Your focus on this goal is not what will strengthen our relationship; time together swimming will.
- I will speak the truth at all times.
She was honest, spoke the truth, and remained herself. Have you ever been in that position before? What did you do with it?
About ten years ago, I was at a place in my career where the hours were long, projects were many, and my focus was inward. I was not paying attention to what was going on around me. That is, until Saturday when I was working on a project at home. Normally, this would have been the time I would invest in my two boys. We loved playing basketball or being outdoors, yet there I was typing away, trying to catch up for the week ahead.
My two boys were coming in and out of the house, but it was not until the third time that I realized what they were doing. They were putting their shoes on, so while I had their attention I asked, “Are you guys shooting hoops?”
“Yes,” the youngest replied.
Then I asked a question, the response to which would sit with me for years to come. I asked, “So, why didn’t you ask me? You know I love to shoot hoops.”
He replied, “Would it matter? You are always working.” That hurt, but boy did I learn and grow from his comment.
“For we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of man.” (2 Corinthians 8:21, ESV)
Aim to do what is honorable, and you will honor God and bless others!
Truth
The book of John is filled with verses on truth. For example:
“And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32, ESV)
“Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” (John 17:17, ESV)
When we think of truth, we often follow it with freedom. But, free from what?
Free from a belief that what you do gets you right from God and embracing what He did got you right with God.
According to Billy Burke:
“If you go by facts all your life, it will cancel out your faith.”
The fact is there are inevitably things in your life that may have wounded you, people who hurt you deeply, and perhaps even things you did or choices you made you cannot seem to let go of. These are some facts, but they are not the truth.
The facts are:
- HURT people hurt people.
- It sucks when people, especially those closest to us, hurt us.
- You may be holding on to this hurt right now.
Truth is:
- Healthy people (those who forgive) heal people.
- We are called to renew our minds.
- We are called to stop conforming to the patterns of this world.
Find the truth in God’s word, and allow it to set you free!
Obedience
Think of Genesis and Revelation as the bookends of Obedience. Between these pages exist everything God desires from us. To be obedient to God is to trust Him, the plans He has, and the way He chooses to reveal and fulfill His plans.
So, live within these 66 books. Demonstrate your love, faith, and willingness to surrender to His authority by being obedient to His calling to:
- Love one another.
- Serve one another.
- Remember one another.
“Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart.” (1 Peter 1:22, ESV)
Embrace a relationship with God by letting go of worldly desires and living a Christlike life!
Prayer
The last of the attributes is also the beginning of a continual revolution, going around and around building energy and strength from one another. Prayer draws us into deeper humility, strengthening our integrity, and allowing us to hear the truth, remain obedient, and return to prayer.
But, really, how powerful is prayer? I look to a story in Exodus to address this question. Exodus 17:11 reads:
“Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed.” (Exodus 17:11, ESV)
What does this tell us? Some of us have to fight, and some have to pray. But those who fight need to be prayed for, and those who pray may need help.
Be Aaron and Hur to support a fellow believer. “Hold up their hands” by helping them find strength in vulnerability and encouragement in accountability.
Fighting lies, disease, stress, etc. will wear us out, but a fellow brother or sister in prayer will ensure we prevail, according to God’s plan, timing, and promises. Hold each other according to the need. If it’s a word of truth — speak it. If it’s a smile — present it, if it’s money, blood, sweat, tears — give it.
And if it’s a prayer — pray it!
Pursue your potential.
