The Inspired Leader: 101 Biblical Reflections for Becoming a Person of Influence (7 page)

What are your life goals? To be promoted into the CEO office? To become wealthy? To own your own company? To become like Jesus? How far along are you in your quest toward Christlikeness? Are you cooperating in that divine endeavor with the only One who can get you there?

IN RECENT YEARS America has been scandalized by a parade of prominent business leaders caught abusing their authority. Due to the public nature of their position, the potential for executives to cause widespread damage is enormous. Accordingly, the media has vigorously condemned them while the courts have levied hefty fines and protracted prison sentences. Bernie Madoff, one of the most notorious of the fallen CEOs, ran a $65 billion Ponzi scheme. He was sentenced to 150 years in prison and ordered to forfeit $17.179 billion in assets. Jeffrey Skilling, one-time CEO of Enron was convicted of fraud and conspiracy. His punishment: a $45 million fine and a 24-year jail sentence. Former WorldCom CEO Bernie Ebbers was sentenced to 25 years of incarceration for securities fraud, conspiracy, and filing false reports with regulators. For misappropriation of Tyco International’s corporate funds, Dennis Kozlowski was sent to prison for up to 25 years. The penalty for corruption of a high leadership position is severe in the business world. If anything, it is even more so in the spiritual realm.

The apostle James warned that those holding positions of influence would face greater accountability (James 3:1). The Old Testament backs up James’ assertion. Moses was a businessman for 40 years before he became a national leader. After faithfully guiding the Israelites on their exhausting and tumultuous journey, he was on the brink of finally delivering them into the Promised Land. Then, in a moment of frustration, Moses publicly dishonored God. The Lord ordered him to speak to a rock and bring forth water for the thirsty people (Numbers 20:8-13). Instead, Moses angrily struck the stone and spoke as though the glory was as much his as God’s. Moses would pay dearly for that blatant, arrogant act. God barred him from achieving the greatest dream of his life, and Moses had to humbly explain to his people, “
The Lord was angry with me for your sakes, and swore that I would not cross over the Jordan, and that I would not enter the good land…”
(Deuteronomy 4:21).

Why was the cost so great for that one transgression? Because Moses was a spiritual leader and an entire nation was watching his relationship with God, ready to take their cue from him. The Bible warns
, “To whom much has been given, much is required”
(Luke 12:48). Conversely, leaders have the privilege of blessing people. God elevated Solomon to the throne so he could uplift his nation. The Queen of Sheba declared of Solomon “
Blessed be the Lord your God, who delighted in you, setting you on the throne of Israel! Because the Lord has loved Israel forever, therefore He made you king, to do justice and righteousness”
(1 Kings 10:9).

Whether it is business, family, politics, or spiritual matters, a leader’s conduct
always
affects others. Because of their influence, leaders who betray their office or who disgrace God’s name will be held to a high standard of accountability. It matters not who you are. If you dishonor God, it will cost you. The reverse is also true. God will honor you, if you honor Him (1 Samuel 2:30). Consider your current role: Through it are you honoring God and blessing people?

REFLECT FOR A MOMENT

1. Are you going to work each day with a keen sense that your conduct is a direct reflection on how people will think about God? How does that affect the way you are living?
   

2. Do you have habits or behaviors that are reflecting poorly on Christ? If so, what should you do about them?
   

3. Has God given you much? If He has, how are you using what God gave you to honor Him in return?
   

EVERYONE HAS STRENGTHS and weaknesses. A hotly debated issue for businesspeople is which of those two areas should receive the majority of their attention. In 2001, Marcus Buckingham and Donald Clifton wrote,
Now Discover Your Strengths
in which they claimed people should not waste time trying to improve on their weaknesses but should instead play to their strengths. In a survey of 1.7 million employees globally, only 20% said they were able to engage in activities they were good at during their normal working day. In addition, the higher the people’s position in the corporate hierarchy, the less the employee worked in areas of his or her strength. Buckingham and Clifton argue that productivity would dramatically improve if employees and management focused on what they do best.

In 2009, Robert A. Kaiser edited the book,
The Perils of Accentuating the Positive,
in which he and other authors challenged the popular strengths-based view. Kaiser noted, “therein lies the problem: when practiced with single minded focus, the strengths approach can become an exercise in self-indulgence. It emphasizes what comes easy for managers and what they enjoy doing. What is ignored is what the organization needs from the position that the person’s job is designed to provide. It is a case of putting the needs of the individual above the needs of the organization.” The authors contend that people are naturally drawn to do what comes easily and wins accolades. Few people want to put in the hard work required to strengthen their weaknesses. The problem for those in upper management is that the skills that earned them their corner office are not necessarily the same abilities necessary for their executive duties. Yet most people are reluctant to shift away from that which has traditionally brought them success. If you have always been good with a hammer, when you reach management you continue wanting to hit things with your trusty tool! Furthermore, leaders going 90 mph in their strengths, rarely take time to address their weaknesses. One day, these one-dimensional leaders come crashing down when their neglected weaknesses bring them to ruin.

How do businesspeople who are committed to Jesus Christ address their deficiencies? Certainly they can do as Walt Disney did and hire to their weaknesses. Disney was a creative visionary but unskilled in administration, so he brought his brother Roy on board to handle logistics. When God looks at us, He sees our potential. He is undaunted at addressing our weaknesses, especially if they make us vulnerable or if they reflect poorly on Him. Despite all that Moses accomplished for the nation of Israel, God did not excuse his weaknesses in delegating or anger management (Exodus 18; Numbers 20:1-13). Likewise Jesus knew that Peter had a penchant for boasting and overconfidence (Matthew 26:33-35). Jesus might have ignored Peter’s swagger in light of his other strengths, but he did not. Even after Peter failed miserably, Jesus walked with his humbled disciple until he had decisively addressed his weakness (John 21:15-19). Jesus didn’t condemn Peter but neither did he excuse or ignore his behavior.

As a business leader, you have strengths that no doubt got you where you are today. What about your weaknesses? Have you been avoiding or excusing them? Are they limiting you? Are others suffering because of them? Why not trust in God’s grace to help you overcome them today?

REFLECT FOR A MOMENT

1. What is one of your strengths? How are you managing it? Is it glorifying God? Are you using it too much? Is it making you overly confident?
   

2. What is one of your weaknesses? How are you addressing it? How has it limited you in the past? What does God want to do about it?
   

3. Have you become a lopsided person? Do you overuse your strengths and avoid your weaknesses? How might you be more effective if you addressed your weaknesses? Have you been hiding behind excuses?
   

SOME PROFESSIONS PROVIDE ample fodder for stand-up comedians and cartoonists. Politicians have long provided a tempting target for humorists. Mark Twain quipped, “Suppose you were an idiot and suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself.” Will Rogers mused, “I don’t make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts.” He also intoned, “Be thankful we’re not getting all the government we’re paying for” and “This country has come to feel the same when Congress is in session as when the baby gets hold of a hammer.”