CODE IX 

I will lead as he would lead. I will honour my leaders provided this also honours Him. I will follow Him in company with my sisters and brothers. 

BIBLE READING: Philippians 2:5-8

In your relationships with one another, have the same mind-set as Christ Jesus: who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death - even death on a cross! 

DEVOTIONAL: 

"A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way." John Maxwell 

Who would want to be a leader? In almost every walk of life you see leaders being criticised, torn apart and their characters ravaged. 

• The countless football fans who criticise every managerial decision and think they know best because they won the league on championship manager. 
• Employees in work places up and down the country who think the managers can't manage and that they could do the job standing on their head, but never do. 
• All of us who tear into elected leaders at every level for what we perceive to be bad decisions. Maybe we should stand for some sort of elected office? 
• We could go on and on …

Leadership is much more visible in a work or sports situation, yet in reality we are all leaders at some level, regardless of any perceived leadership titles that we may or may not have. For example, a husband and father leads their family, an older more experienced Christian leads those less mature in their faith by example, the person who organises the rotas for car park duty and the person responsible for setting up the chairs on a Sunday morning leads those teams. Also, as Christians we all have a responsibility to lead others to Jesus. 

Society's concept of leadership is, according to Answers.com, as follows: 

'Leadership is a process in which a leader attempts to influence his or her followers to establish and accomplish a goal or goals. In order to accomplish the goal, the leader exercises his or her power to influence people. That power is exercised in earlier stages by motivating followers to get the job done and in latter stages by rewarding or punishing those who do or do not perform to the level of expectation.' 

However when we examine the passage we find that Jesus had a completely different approach to leadership. Rather than exercising his authority he: 

• Did not lead out of selfish ambition or conceit. 
• Did not see Himself as better than others but always treated others as better than Him. 
• Genuinely cared about the interests of His followers. 
• Humbled Himself to raise others up. 

What type of leader are we? 

Are we a person who is willing to be led as well as to lead others? 

Are we committed to following Jesus and being led by others too?

QUESTIONS: 

• In what ways do you see yourself as a leader in work, sport or everyday life? 
• What does it mean to consider someone better than you? 
• Who do you admire because they truly put the interests of others ahead of their own interests? 
• How do you balance meeting the needs of others with meeting your own needs? 
• How can you change your leadership style away from society's concept of leadership to a more Biblical style of leadership? 

PRAYER: 

Jesus help us to be leaders who influence others from our relationship and dependence on you. Inspire us to guard our hearts and honour you, both in how we lead and how we follow. Amen