AN HONORABLE AMBITIONA desire to be great is not necessarily in itself sinful. It is the motivation that determines its character. To be seen and approved by men, to be popular. to stand well among one’s contemporaries., to exercise control over others. Ambitious men enjoy the power which money or authority brings Not the number of one’s servants, but the number whom one serves, is the heavenly criterion of greatness and the real preparation for leadership. True greatness, true leadership is achieved not by reducing men to one’s service but in giving oneself in selfless service to them. The true spiritual leader is concerned infinitely more with the service he can render God and his fellowmen than with the benefits and pleasures he can extract from life. He aims to put more into life than he takes out of it.
THE SEARCH FOR LEADERS
Because people love to be led by one who knows where he is going and who inspires
confidence. Spiritual leaders are not made by election or appointment, by men
or any combination of men, nor by conferences or synods. Only God can make them.
Samuel Logan Brengle was one of the truly great leaders of the Salvation Army. A man of scholarship as well as of singular spiritual power, he outlined the road to spiritual authority and leadership in challenging words. “It is not won by promotion, but by many prayers and tears. It is attained by confessions of sin, and
much heart searching and humbling before God; by self-surrender, a courageous sacrifice of every idol, a bold, deathless, uncompromising and uncomplaining
embracing of the cross, and by an eternal, unfaltering looking unto Jesus crucified.
It is not gained by seeking great things for ourselves, but rather, like Paul, by
counting those things that are gain to us as loss for Christ. That is a great price,
but it must be unflinchingly paid by him who would be not merely a nominal but a
real spiritual leader of men, a leader whose power is recognized and felt in heaven,
on earth and in hell.” God’s conditions must be complied with in secret before He
will honor a man in public.
NATURAL AND SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP
Leadership is influence, the ability of one person to influence others. Lord Montgomery defines it in these terms: “Leadership is the capacity and will to rally
men and women to a common purpose, and the character which inspires confidence.”
Dr. John R. Mott, a world leader in student circles, gave as his definition: “A leader is a man who knows the road, who can keep ahead, and who can pull others after
him.” Spiritual leadership is a matter of superior spiritual power. We are leaders to the extent that we inspire others to follow us.“It occurs to me that perhaps the best test of whether one is a qualified leader is to find out whether anyone is following him.”
The man who is ambitious to lead is disqualified as a leader. The true leader will have no desire to lord it over God’s heritage, but will be humble, gentle, self-sacrificing and altogether as ready to follow as to lead, when the Spirit makes it clear that a wiser and more gifted man than himself has appeared.
Lord Montgomery enunciated seven ingredients necessary in a leader in war, each
of which is appropriate to the spiritual warfare: (1) He should be able to sit back
and avoid getting immersed in detail. (2) He must not be petty. (3) He must not be
pompous. (4) He must be a good picker of men. (5) He should trust those under him,
and let them get on with their job without interference. (6) He must have the
power of clear decision. (7) He should inspire confidence.
Dr. John R. Mott moved in student circles and his tests covered different territory: (1) Does he do little things well? (2) Has he learned the meaning of priorities? (3) How does he use his leisure? (4) Has he intensity? (5) Has he learned to take advantage of momentum?(6) Has he the power of growth? (7) What is his attitude to discouragements? (8)How does he face impossible situations? (9) What are his weakest points?
Leadership is essentially the power of one man to influence another. Spirituality is not easy to define but its presence or absence can easily be discerned. It has been called the diffused fragrance which has been assimilated in the garden of the Lord. It is the power to change the atmosphere by one’s presence, the unconscious influence which makes Christ and spiritual things real to others. Secular men, be they ever so gifted and charming in person, have no place in the leadership of the church, even in temporal matters. ( Notes by Dave Kraft)
Oswald Sanders was a great missionary and writer, Other books he wrote that were in the same vein would include 'The Pursuit of Maturity' and 'Paul the Leader'. No less a man than George Verwer recommends his works.
ReplyDeleteIn this Post Sanders rules out wrong motivation in the pursuit to be a spiritual leader. Sadly it seems that there are some spiritual leaders who have not read his book or if they have they haven't heeded his advice.
'To be seen and approved by men, to be popular. to stand well among one’s contemporaries., to exercise control over others. Ambitious men enjoy the power which money or authority brings'.
The above really has no place in the work of ministry. On the other hand Sanders states what is needed:
'True greatness, true leadership is achieved not by reducing men to one’s service but in giving oneself in selfless service to them. The true spiritual leader is concerned infinitely more with the service he can render God and his fellowmen than with the benefits and pleasures he can extract from life. He aims to put more into life than he takes out of it.Lord give us more of this type of leader.