some random thoughts on leadership

* lead team with discernment, wisdom, understanding, and good judgment … engendering trust

* strive to be an instrument of the Lord in helping to protect, support, and care for teammates by:

- providing safety [Ps 31:19-20/ 48:8-14/ 101:5-6]

# Psalm 31:19-20: Your goodness is so great! You have stored up great blessings for those who honor you. You have done so much for those who come to you for protection, blessing them before the watching world. You hide them in the shelter of your presence, safe from those who conspire against them. You shelter them in your presence, far from accusing tongues.

Psalm 48:8-14: We had heard of the city's glory, but now we have seen it ourselves— the city of the Lord Almighty. It is the city of our God; he will make it safe forever.

O God, we meditate on your unfailing love as we worship in your Temple. As your name deserves, O God, you will be praised to the ends of the earth. Your strong right hand is filled with victory. Let the people on Mount Zion rejoice. Let the towns of Judah be glad, for your judgments are just.

Go, inspect the city of Jerusalem. Walk around and count the many towers. Take note of the fortified walls, and tour all the citadels, that you may describe them to future generations.

For that is what God is like. He is our God forever and ever, and he will be our guide until we die.

Psalm 101:5-6: I will not tolerate people who slander their neighbors. I will not endure conceit and pride. I will keep a protective eye on the godly, so they may dwell with me in safety. Only those who are above reproach will be allowed to serve me.

- being pleased with righteousness/ honesty and judging fairly [Pr 16:10-13/ 8:12-13/ 20:8, 23, 26-27]

Proverbs 16:10-13: The king speaks with divine wisdom; he must never judge unfairly. The Lord demands fairness in every business deal; he sets the standard. A king despises wrongdoing, for his rule depends on his justice. The king is pleased with righteous lips; he loves those who speak honestly.

Proverbs 8:12-13: "I, Wisdom, live together with good judgment. I know where to discover knowledge and discernment. All who fear the Lord will hate evil. That is why I hate pride, arrogance, corruption, and perverted speech.

Proverbs 20:8, 23, 26-27: When a king judges, he carefully weighs all the evidence, distinguishing the bad from the good. The Lord despises double standards; he is not pleased by dishonest scales. A wise king finds the wicked, lays them out like wheat, then runs the crushing wheel over them. The Lord's searchlight penetrates the human spirit, exposing every hidden motive.

- giving good counsel based on knowledge of right and wrong [Ps 37:30/ Micah 3:1/ Pr 12:15]

Psalm 37:30: The godly offer good counsel; they know what is right from wrong.

Micah 3:1: Listen, you leaders of Israel! You are supposed to know right from wrong,

Proverbs 12:15: Fools think they need no advice, but the wise listen to others.

- holding the banner of Christ high as a rallying point [Ps 60:4/ Isa 13:2]

Psalm 60:4: But you have raised a banner for those who honor you— a rallying point in the face of attack.

Isaiah 13:2: "See the flags waving as the enemy attacks. Cheer them on, O Israel! Wave to them as they march against Babylon to destroy the palaces of the high and mighty.

- walking in the light [John 3:21/ 12:35-36]

John 3:21: But those who do what is right come to the light gladly, so everyone can see that they are doing what God wants."

John 12:35-36: Jesus replied, "My light will shine out for you just a little while longer. Walk in it while you can, so you will not stumble when the darkness falls. If you walk in the darkness, you cannot see where you are going. Believe in the light while there is still time; then you will become children of the light." After saying these things, Jesus went away and was hidden from them.

- pursuing truth [Ps 89:14/ John 18:23/ Pr 18:17]

Psalm 89:14: Your throne is founded on two strong pillars—righteousness and justice. Unfailing love and truth walk before you as attendants.

John 18:23: Jesus replied, "If I said anything wrong, you must give evidence for it. Should you hit a man for telling the truth?"

Proverbs 18:17: Any story sounds true until someone sets the record straight.

- stewarding their gifts and calling as best as I can [I Cor 4:2/ Luke 12:42-43/ Matt 25:14-30]

I Cor. 4:2: Now, a person who is put in charge as a manager must be faithful.

Luke 12:42-43: And the Lord replied, "I'm talking to any faithful, sensible servant to whom the master gives the responsibility of managing his household and feeding his family. If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward.

Matthew 25:14-30: "Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a trip. He called together his servants and gave them money to invest for him while he was gone. He gave five bags of gold to one, two bags of gold to another, and one bag of gold to the last—dividing it in proportion to their abilities—and then left on his trip. The servant who received the five bags of gold began immediately to invest the money and soon doubled it. The servant with two bags of gold also went right to work and doubled the money. But the servant who received the one bag of gold dug a hole in the ground and hid the master's money for safekeeping.

"After a long time their master returned from his trip and called them to give an account of how they had used his money. The servant to whom he had entrusted the five bags of gold said, 'Sir, you gave me five bags of gold to invest, and I have doubled the amount.' The master was full of praise. 'Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let's celebrate together!'

"Next came the servant who had received the two bags of gold, with the report, 'Sir, you gave me two bags of gold to invest, and I have doubled the amount.' The master said, 'Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let's celebrate together!'

"Then the servant with the one bag of gold came and said, 'Sir, I know you are a hard man, harvesting crops you didn't plant and gathering crops you didn't cultivate. I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth and here it is.'

"But the master replied, 'You wicked and lazy servant! You think I'm a hard man, do you, harvesting crops I didn't plant and gathering crops I didn't cultivate? Well, you should at least have put my money into the bank so I could have some interest. Take the money from this servant and give it to the one with the ten bags of gold. To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who are unfaithful, even what little they have will be taken away. Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

- leading with integrity [Pr 20:7/ Ps 101:2-7/ Matt 5:33+37/ James 5:12]

Proverbs 20:7: The godly walk with integrity; blessed are their children after them.

Psalm 101:2-7: I will be careful to live a blameless life— when will you come to my aid?

I will lead a life of integrity in my own home.

I will refuse to look at anything vile and vulgar. I hate all crooked dealings; I will have nothing to do with them. I will reject perverse ideas and stay away from every evil.

I will not tolerate people who slander their neighbors. I will not endure conceit and pride.

I will keep a protective eye on the godly, so they may dwell with me in safety. Only those who are above reproach will be allowed to serve me. I will not allow deceivers to serve me, and liars will not be allowed to enter my presence.

Matthew 5:33 + 37: "Again, you have heard that the law of Moses says, 'Do not break your vows; you must carry out the vows you have made to the Lord.'

Just say a simple, 'Yes, I will,' or 'No, I won't.' Your word is enough. To strengthen your promise with a vow shows that something is wrong.

James 5:12: But most of all, my brothers and sisters, never take an oath, by heaven or earth or anything else. Just say a simple yes or no, so that you will not sin and be condemned for it.

### John 14:27: "I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give isn't like the peace the world gives. So don't be troubled or afraid.

Warren D. Carter

leadership principles

13.10.02