Bible Leadership

Aren't successful leaders really just following biblical leadership principles?

Bible Leadership

I chose to pursue my graduate degree in Leadership and Ethics.

Not because I was planning to step into an executive position some day. But because I was really curious to learn the academic world’s perspective on leadership.

I already had my own opinion of how a great leader should be. And because of my Christian upbringing, biblical principles served as my frame of reference for my own personal leadership model.

And as far as I was concerned, the bible was the frame of reference that every leadership theory should be based upon.

What I found during my studies wasn’t surprising. All of the identifiable characteristics of great leaders could be found in scripture. Sure, they weren't labeled as being scriptural, but they were. In my opinion, a Leader by any other name, is a Devoted Christian.

During my two years of study, I heard several definitions for the leadership. "A leader is one who inspires others to greatness. A leader 'does what he says he will do'. A leader motivates and inspires others to succeed. A leader is a visionary who has the ability to communicate that vision and inspire others to support it."

I agreed with all of those definitions. They were/are vital characteristics for any successful leader to possess. I strongly agreed that leaders must be people of integrity. The must “do what they say they will do”.

Leaders Can Be Trusted

This is the most important leadership principle, in my opinion. Trust is super important in any relationship, including working relationships. God instructs us to be people of integrity. “The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.”

Trust and Integrity go hand in hand. Integrity is moral excellence and honesty. Integrity is the seed that brings forth a harvest of trust. When you are a person of integrity, you can be trusted.

Leaders can be Trusted to tell the truth; trusted to keep private matters private; and trusted to make decisions in the best interest of others, and not for themselves. Trusted to manage processes with diligence and to lead people with integrity.

Leading People and Managing Processes

Leaders inspire, encourage, and motivate. Managers organize, regulate, and control processes. One of the most tragic mistakes a person of authority can make is to confuse people with processes.

People are lead. Processes are managed. And if we confuse the two, the end result could be devastating.What do I mean by devastating? Here is just one of many stories to support my point.

I had a supervisor once who, on the surface, seemed to be very good at what she did. Her shift yielded the most products day after day. Upper management applauded her for her successful contributions to the bottom line—profit.

This “success” lasted for about a year. And then things started to change. Until the productivity dropped, staff started making mistakes; and few of them even quit.

Upper management was confused. What was happening? Things seemed to be going great. To those of us she supervised, the answer was simple.

While our supervisor had great management skills, her people skills were horrible. She wasn’t able to discern between management and leadership.

When she walked past staff, she never said hello. If a team member exceeded expectations, she ignored it. When it came time to give merit raises, she only gave them to her "favorites”.

We didn’t trust her. We weren’t motivated to work. And as one of the team members put it, “Why should we break our backs to make her look good, when she’s doesn’t even recognize us for it.”

Long story short, people started complaining; the supervisor was “promoted” out of our area. Eventually, she quit.

Where did she go wrong? She didn’t understand the important principle of leading people versus managing processes. She was managing people and managing processes.

Problem is, people have feelings. They’re human, with human emotions and when you push them, they some times push back. Leaders respect human emotion. Leaders value people.

Leadership Principles in Scripture

Leadership Principal: Leaders don’t use “I” and “me”. Leaders use the term “we”. They understand that they are part of the team. And every member is a key player. “But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.” Luke22:26

Leadership Principal: Leaders don’t think of themselves as better than everyone else. They recognize that every human resource is a valuable contributor. “careful that you do not think more highly of yourself than you should.”

Leadership Principal: Leaders care about the people who work in their organization. “As a shepherd seeks out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy an dark day.” Ezekiel 34:12

Leadership Principal: Leaders are able to communicate the mission and goals. They know where the organization is headed and have a plan for getting there. “Therefore now go, lead the people unto the place which I have spoken unto thee: behold, Mine Angel shall go before thee:” Exodus 32:34

Leadership Principal: Leaders can be trusted. They are fair. And they keep their word. “The just man walks in his integrity: his children are blessed after him. Proverbs 20:7”

Leadership Principal: Leaders are objective. They are guided by wise decisions and reasoning. “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and He delights in his way.” Psalm 37:23

Leadership Principal: Leaders understand the importance of earning respect and having a good reputation as opposed to focusing only on the bottom line. “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold”. Proverbs 22:1

My Bible Leadership Model

There are plenty of leadership theories principals, and I’m willing to bet that all of them can be found in the scripture.

Since scripture applies to all of us, that means we are all leaders. Those who serve God and live according to His principles, are leaders. Whether we are in a position of “authority” or not.

So if had to create a Biblical or Bible Leadership Model, it would look something like this:

• Understands that the ultimate leader is God, and seeking Him is paramount to success. “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all of these things will be added unto you. Matthew 6:33"



• Prays continuously and all actions are guided by the Holy Spirit. “Seek the Lord and His strength. Seek His face continually.” I Chronicles 16:11



• Personal characteristics are modeled after the Fruits of the Spirit. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith.” Galatians 5:22



• Plans projects with careful consideration. “For which of you, intending to build a tower, sits not down first, and counts the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it”? Luke 14:28



• Supports the promotion and success of employees. “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others”. Philippians 2:4



• Communicates vision and goals clearly with motivation. “Write the vision, and make it plain upon the tables, that he may run that reads it.” Habakkuk 2:2



• Exhibits excellence and diligence. “Seest though a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.” Proverbs 22:29

Bottom line. If you want to be a successful leader, follow the principles outlined in the Bible. Come up with your own Bible Leadership Model, follow it and you won't go wrong.

Be blessed!

November 20, 2007

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