Daily Devotion

April 24, 2013

Earning the Right to Lead (1)


“Don’t begin until you count the cost.” Lk 14:28 NLT

Earning the right to lead calls for the following things: (1) Prayerfully evaluating before you act. The very thing that makes leading others so appealing to your ego, makes you vulnerable to their pressures and praise. “When Jesus perceived that they were about to… make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone” (Jn 6:15 NKJV). Let’s be honest; who amongst us doesn’t want to be “king” sometimes? But Jesus wasn’t led by the applause of the crowd, He was led by the will of His Father. And you must be too. (2) Not just filling the slot, but filling it with the right person. Sometimes we give people jobs because we can’t find anybody else to do them. But what happens when the job outgrows them? There’s more at stake here than sparing somebody’s feelings. Your fear of confrontation will permit people to languish in the wrong slot, slowing down the vision and discouraging the gifted folks around you who keep wondering, “How long are you going to put up with this?” (3) Seeking the best counsel you can find. “Be with wise men and become wise” (Pr 13:20 TLB). Don’t pay twice for the same information. Seek advice from someone you respect; someone who’s already done what you want to do, particularly when your decision affects others and will be called upon to stand the test of time. What looks good to you today, or in somebody else’s polished sales pitch, may not look so good tomorrow when you’re presented with better options. Jesus bottom-lines it: “Don’t begin until you count the cost.”

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