Why Patience Is A Particularly Difficult Virtue For Leaders To Develop!

Running shoes are more comfortable than work boots. Getting our way, winning an argument, and keeping the machinery running at all cost is much easier than, gracefully waiting, speaking with seasoned words, and allowing a certain amount of failure to come about because of the flaws of ourselves and others. It is much easier to end a problem and have closure, with the desired results or not, than it is to suffer long and endure. Patience is only learned through the trials of “thorns and thistles”. Many leaders would rather run away than to weather the storm. One can conclude that unless a spiritual leader is willing to afford themselves discomfort, denial of self, and getting our agenda passed, they will never learn the virtuous quality of character known as patience.

Can A Leader's Vision Be A Hindrance?

A person who is a visionary can be so caught up in the “end” that he forgets the “now”. By this I mean that a leader who has vision must be able to see “it” in the end, but be able to clear a road for people to make it there. It is true that your best leaders were those who saw things others did not. Many times, however, a leader has made the mistake of forging ahead and leaving his subordinates behind. When this happens he has ceased to be a leader, and, in effect, become a loner. A leader can turn vision into a reality, but he has to adjust for the wind. Thus, vision can create a vacuum if one is not careful to balance vision with realism.

US Political Vacuum

Where is the leadership once demonstrated by the United States? It seems that whatever landscape you put us in, LEADERSHIP is not a description of the vista. We can blame Democrats, Republicans, and Independents. The fault does not necessarily lie in the party itself, but in the individuals that make it up. Just as we would conclude that guns are not evil, but people are, so we propose that the party is not the real problem, it is people. Yes, the ideology of the various political entities are vastly different and some are far behind enemy lines seeking to bombard the beachhead entrenched by our founding fathers. Yet, the people who line the rosters of these groups are the reason we are in this black hole!

Where is the resounding voice of a "Churchill" like leader? That lone voice in the evening that seemed to calm the restlessness of a wearied people. Where is that courage, and allegiance to the cause of freedom once espoused by Reagan? It seems no single leader is stepping forward. Yes, the swords rattle in the ranks, but no clear captain to rally the troops. Across the land people are polarized by various issues, but not solidified behind leadership.

Is it fear that has silenced the voice of reason? Has vice handicapped the man of the hour? Has bribery, and political favors rendered the choicest among us impotent? Maybe it is self preservation that has closed the mouths of those that would get on the stump and herald forth the message of deliverance to our nation's woes. Whatever it is, we are caught in a powerful vacuum in the absence of vital leadership.

President Obama is our nations leader, so-called. Where is the leadership? All one can see is that of tyranny. Yes, there are many who would follow him off of the cliff, but a growing majority just want to be led. Instilling fear, of varying stripes, into a populace is not leadership. Platitudes, pomp, prestige of image may get one into office, but leadership navigates a nation.

Leadership dictates that when seeking to move into difficult waters extreme caution must be the compass. At the same time, counsel must be sought by ALL resources available. Courage in the face of difficulty will either come from selfish interests or from the consensus of those surrounding you who are firmly embedded in the dictate of principle. In the absence of courage derived from principle, cynical, vindictive, and even tyrannical actions display themselves for all to ponder.

In summary, leadership is needed badly in this nation! Unanimity and solidarity around platitudes will not stop the political vacuum of this great nation. The guiding star out of this black hole is that of conservatism around the founding principles of this country! May someone stand against the grain in Washington D.C. like the bow of a mighty ship dividing the waves in the stormy North Atlantic! May someone rise to the occasion and be counted no matter the cost to their political future! We have no future unless we get some solid, tempered, and genuine leadership back into Washington!

A Thought!

I have been soberly reminded of the fact that true spiritual leadership is as scarce today as million dollars bills are. Up until now, I have simply looked at the person who fills the position as a spiritual leader. It is apparent to me, at this point, that not every occupant is a true spiritual leader of men. God has a hard time finding leaders because men either will not yield themselves as pupils in His “school of hard knocks”, or they indulge in sin so much that they are in no condition to lead others because of their testimony. Still others feel that they only need training and a diploma to serve. Human education is simply not enough to equip an individual. God makes the spiritual leader through the sanctification process of the Holy Ghost maturing the servant into the image of Christ. The spiritual leader is always learning, even while holding an office and edifying his peers.

Is Spiritual Leadership An Honorable Ambition?

There are several reasons for which most today would think that seeking spiritual leadership is not an honorable ambition. Firstly, the mindset of many today see the pulpit, and chairs of spiritual leadership as being accompanied with lavish perks, prestige, praise and the admiration of the masses. They see the results in the business world where leadership is often driven by these self-serving incentives. Many would thus conclude that for someone aspiring to be a spiritual leader they would, in fact, reveal a somewhat covetous heart.

Secondly, many believe that one should always be asked to fill a position, or, in the very least, the vacancy should fill itself. People should be available, but should never seek out opportunities. There are many casualties in our modern day church where individuals sought places of leadership, who, in years subsequent to their exaltation, showed their true colors. It is no wonder that many swerve away from those who are seeking out responsibility.

Lastly, many view the word “ambition” as a somewhat dirty word in the realm of spiritual things. It is okay, on the one hand, to have ambition to make it financially to support your family, but it is taboo if one should have ambition to serve in a leadership role in church. This misconception is common and has some merit; however, we must understand that ambition which is camping around the glory of God is a “mighty force for good”. It is understandable that ambition which hovers around self, and pride is not good, but is, in fact, evil!

In summary, one must clearly see that ambition which is centered on God’s glory is certainly acceptable, while ambition for spiritual leadership which is from a selfish and self-promoting heart is sin. The Apostle Paul’s statement in I Timothy 3:1 is not advocating someone seek a place of leadership from a sinful motivation. Rather, Paul is encouraging qualified men to take the reigns of leadership. It is hard for us to comprehend this in our day because we do not understand what the bishop faced when he did assume the leadership role in the local assembly. His only reward was a plethora of persecutions, ranging from verbal attacks to martyrdom. Thus we can conclude that if a man did desire to lead under those harsh circumstances, it would be very unlikely that he would do so from a self serving heart. Therefore, desiring to be a bishop is “an honorable ambition”.