Duty Or Desire?

“The greatest leaders do not seek their position, rather they assume responsibility out of necessity,” said the noble leader mentoring their protege in a movie my family happened to be watching.My 15-year-old son turns to me on the couch and says, “Hey, dad, that sounds like something you’d say.” The corner of my lip turns up and I respond, “I believe that, always have.” Selfishly, I was really glad to know that he knows this about his father, who also happens to be his pastor. I can only hope that these sentiments abiding in his own heart offer him comfort, knowing the base reason behind my sense of leadership.As is the case in many such situations, this got me thinking about whether or not the Bible concurs. I’ve learned over the years that sage-like wisdom is folly without backing from the Word. While an occasional point of wisdom may spill out of the mouth of an actor, as attractive and tempting as it might be in the moment to make it doctrine, I’ve learned to earmark such “wisdom” as suspect until the Holy Spirit convicts me of the truth of it in the Bible.How blessed is the man who finds wisdom
And the man who gains understanding.
For her profit is better than the profit of silver
And her gain better than fine gold.
She is more precious than jewels;
And nothing you desire compares with her.
Long life is in her right hand;
In her left hand are riches and honor.
Her ways are pleasant ways
And all her paths are peace.
She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her,
And happy are all who hold her fast.There are a lot of well-written books on leadership, but none compare to the Bible. In fact, most of the best books ever written are merely commercial ripoffs of doctrines conveyed long ago in the completed canon of scripture. The same goes with leadership consulting - anyone worth their salt is a mere shadow of our Lord, Jesus Christ…though most will hardly admit it.So I set out on a bit of a “refresher mission” you could say, albeit a brief one, as it turns out, since I’ve always known that every one of the so-called “greatest leaders” in the Bible were humble responders to necessity. In every case I visited in scripture, from Jesus Christ, to Moses, to David, to Paul, to Mary (Jesus’ mother), the Bible revealed them as obedient to their Father’s calling on their lives. These were not the wannabe “rock stars” we see nowadays leading Christian ministries (many of who are former performers of some sort or another looking for an outlet).Every godly leader in the Bible was pressed into service. The biblical accounts of many of them make it plainly obvious that the only reason they assumed their responsibilities was a sense of duty to their Lord in Heaven. The only time desire towards such an endeavor was apparent was as the result of their hearts already being forged dutiful.Allow me to share a small glimpse of the abundance of Holy Scripture that endorses my point about leaders, starting with the greatest leader ever to walk the face of the planet, Jesus Christ.Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.After being called to lead Israel out of bondage, Moses said:But Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt?”After being given the Davidic Covenant (“Your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established forever” - 2 Samuel 7:16), David uttered these words:Then David the king went in and sat before the LORD, and he said, “Who am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my house, that You have brought me this far? And yet this was insignificant in Your eyes, O Lord GOD, for You have spoken also of the house of Your servant concerning the distant future. And this is the custom of man, O Lord GOD. Again what more can David say to You? For You know Your servant, O Lord GOD!”With the utmost respect and humility towards the Gospel presentation, Paul said:For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.Jesus’ mother, Mary, in her Magnificat said:And Mary said:
“My soul exalts the Lord,
And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave;
For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed.
For the Mighty One has done great things for me;
And holy is His name.
AND HIS MERCY IS UPON GENERATION AFTER GENERATION
TOWARD THOSE WHO FEAR HIM.
He has done mighty deeds with His arm;
He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones,
And has exalted those who were humble.”I challenge anyone to find a clearer picture of the very heart of good leadership than that found in these simple passages I’ve referenced above. You won’t. And if you’re honest with yourself, you’ll realize that what I say is absolutely true.Duty precedes desire in the heart of every great leader. Such is the way of the humble. For the arrogant, desire always leads duty. Satan’s the perfect example, however, it doesn’t take a person very long to identify the fruit of arrogance in leadership.In my 47 years, I’ve both followed and led in sports, the military, industry, family, and ministry. My own wisdom on this has only been solidified with each passing experience. There’s nothing sweeter than being a subordinate to a leader who’s doing it for the right reasons. Conversely, there are few things more disheartening than working under a leader who isn’t. Thankfully, we have Wisdom, Herself, to guide us in every circumstance:Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ; not by way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free. And masters, do the same things to them, and give up threatening, knowing that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.The desire to lead is a wonderful thing - truly. However, it must be in accordance with the heart of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who humbly came down out of Heaven to obey His Father, to save, and to serve. “Your will be done,” said the Son to the Father (Matthew 26:42).For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.
Love in Christ,
​
Ed Collins