Remembrance is a positive trait in any person, and in especially leaders! Remembrance is important in every sphere of life. Sometimes when we encounter great difficulties and we grieve, we try to forget those sad aspects of our lives. Nonetheless, remembrance, is an important part of our lives. It is amazing to realise that remembrance is important to God too. The Bible says in Hebrews 6:10 that “GOD IS NOT UNRIGHTEOUS TO FORGET your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name…” This means that a certain type of forgetting is unrighteous. It is unrighteous to forget those who have helped you! It is unrighteous to forget those who have brought you up. It is unrighteous to forget those who have done you good.
A leader is likely to have some people help him to get to his current place in life. This unrighteousness of not remembering should not be found in a leader! A good leader is someone who remembers those who have inspired, motivated and influenced him. A good leader is someone who remembers his teachers. One of the first tenets of the physician’s oath speaks of doctors remembering their teachers. A good leader remembers the one who believed in him when he was nothing. A good leader remembers the one who helped him financially and advised him.
“And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no,”
Deuteronomy 8:2.
The Lord took the Israelites out of Egypt and warned them not to forget about all that he had done for them. This warning was given because we have a tendency to forget the good that has been done to us! Because the Israelites could forget, they were warned to desist from forgetting.
“When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the Lord thy God for the good land which he hath given thee. Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day: Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein; And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied; Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the Lord thy God…”
Deuteronomy 8:10-14.
Pastors who try not to remember, often do not preach well because they cannot give testimonies of what God has done. Since they do not want to appreciate the past, they are unable to refer to it. My preaching is full of testimonies of what the Lord has brought me through. A leader who has a bad memory lacks true compassion. If he cannot remember where he came from, he cannot relate with someone in the state he was in a few years before. The Bible teaches us that God brings us through situations so that we will be able to help others one day.
“And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation… or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation,”
2 Corinthians 1:6.
Paul said clearly that the experiences that he had had were for the benefit of others. A leader, therefore, may have experiences for the sake of others! A dangerous feature of a leader with a bad memory is that he may mock those who once helped him. He may even despise those below him.
That will be unfortunate. That will be an unfortunate seed to sow into your future.
All these traits have dangerous consequences. This is why a good leader must have a good memory. I try to remember the mistakes I have made in ministry. It gives me a lot of compassion for those coming after me. I remember the days I was ridiculed and criticised by many because I had begun a new church. That is why I am very sympathetic towards up-and-coming pastors! I also try to remember the difficult times I have had in ministry. That is why I am in a hurry to share any knowledge that God has been gracious to give me with others, to make their burden lighter.
Remember that it is unrighteousness to forget someone’s labour of love towards you. It is a good thing to remember the path you have come through and the people who have helped you along that path. This ability to remember engenders faithfulness in those people towards you. And every leader needs faithfulness to progress. May you be a leader who remembers those who have helped you! May you be blessed as you remember! May you not be someone who mocks anyone who has ever helped you!
The Art of Leadership By Dag Heward-Mills
theaol@ymail.com