SCRIPTURE:
1 So look at Apollos and me as mere servants of Christ who have been put in charge of explaining God’s mysteries. 2 Now, a person who is put in charge as a manager must be faithful. 3 As for me, it matters very little how I might be evaluated by you or by any human authority. I don’t even trust my own judgment on this point. 4 My conscience is clear, but that doesn’t prove I’m right. It is the Lord himself who will examine me and decide.
1 Corinthians 4:1-4
7 The Lord told Joshua, “Today I will begin to make you a great leader in the eyes of all the Israelites. They will know that I am with you, just as I was with Moses. 8 Give this command to the priests who carry the Ark of the Covenant: ‘When you reach the banks of the Jordan River, take a few steps into the river and stop there.’” 9 So Joshua told the Israelites, “Come and listen to what the Lord your God says.
Joshua 3:7-9
14 That day the Lord made Joshua a great leader in the eyes of all the Israelites, and for the rest of his life they revered him as much as they had revered Moses.
Joshua 4:14
OBSERVATION:
What makes a great leader? Is it strategy? Giftedness? Charisma? In today’s devotions, three great leaders of the Bible––Joshua, Apollos, and Paul––tell us the “not-so-secret” to great leadership.
In 1 Corinthians 4:1-4, the apostle Paul describes both he and Apollos as “mere servants of Christ who have been put in charge of explaining God’s mysteries.” He goes on to say that “it is the Lord himself who will examine me and decide.” Yes, both Paul and Apollos were highly revered by the Early Church, but they are quick to give credit where credit is due––for they specify that they are only privileged to serve, manage, and lead because God has decided so.
Nearly 1,500 years earlier, Joshua also communicates the same truth. As he recalls in Joshua 3:7, “The Lord told Joshua, ‘Today I will begin to make you a great leader in the eyes of all the Israelites. They will know that I am with you, just as I was with Moses.’” And after the nation of Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground, he writes again in Joshua 4:14, “That day the Lord made Joshua a great leader in the eyes of all the Israelites.”
APPLICATION:
The question we should ask ourselves is not “WHAT makes a great leader?”
The real question we should be asking is is, “WHO makes a great leader?” It’s not strategy, giftedness, or charisma that makes a great leader; it is God who makes a great leader. For it is only God who can take you where skill cannot. If you want to be a great leader, you’re going to need God. It is God who chooses, elevates, and anoints people to become great leaders––for “apart from [God, you] can do nothing” (John 15:5).
If you desire to be a great leader, focus on honoring God.
1. Live a life worthy of His calling.
3 As for me, it matters very little how I might be evaluated by you or by any human authority. I don’t even trust my own judgment on this point. 4 My conscience is clear, but that doesn’t prove I’m right. It is the Lord himself who will examine me and decide. (1 Corinthians 4:1-4)
Don’t be a leader who seeks the approval of man more than the approval of God. The apostle Paul tells us that he did not care what others thought of him. Rather, he sought to live a life that pleased God. He took his own advice in Ephesians 4:1-5 to “lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. 2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. 3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. 4 For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.” Great leaders honor God first, so that from the overflow of their relationship with God, they can honor those God has entrusted them to lead.
2. Listen to His every direction.
9 So Joshua told the Israelites, “Come and listen to what the Lord your God says. (Joshua 3:9)
The purpose of leadership isn’t to consolidate power for oneself; it is to influence people towards God’s purposes. Joshua didn’t abuse the leadership that God gave him to do whatever he wanted; he sought the Lord for directions, listened to Him when He spoke, and followed God’s commands completely. People are not pawns to use for your own purposes; they are sons and daughters that God has entrusted you to disciple. Whether in the sacred or in the secular, honor the Father by using the influence He has given you to guide His children to Him. Great leaders led people by listening to God and following His every direction.
3. Learn to Love His process.
7 The Lord told Joshua, “Today I will begin to make you a great leader in the eyes of all the Israelites. They will know that I am with you, just as I was with Moses. (Joshua 3:7)
Great leaders aren’t built in a day; they are built through a daily relationship with God. God didn’t magically turn Joshua into a great leader instantaneously; God had a process through which He transformed Joshua into a great leader. In Joshua 3:7, God specifically tells Joshua that this was the day He would “begin to make you a great leader.” In order to become a great leader, Joshua needed to invest his time, trust, and talents to God––and you are no exception. Great leaders are made by God, over time, and through a process.
Leadership is not a high-level position at a company; it is simply influence in life. God has given you influence––over your family, friends, workplace, and church. Therefore, you are a leader. And God didn’t create you to be a mediocre leader; He desires to transform you into a great leader. Live a life worthy of His calling, listen to His every direction, and learn to love His process. For when you do, He will make you into a great leader, just like He did with Joshua, Apollos, and Paul.
PRAYER:
God,
Thank You for the influence, leadership, and calling You have given me. I desire to become a great leader for You. I give my life to You, I yield to Your ways, and I will serve You alone. Teach me, train me, correct me, and transform me as I follow You. I love You, Lord. Thank You for loving me.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
