The Art of Leadership
BE A leader who reads! Understand that if you can’t read, you can’t lead! That is why leaders are often prepared to pay any amount of money for a book. Every good leader loves books. Many leaders know that the information in a book may make the difference for their life’s work.
Reading and Martin Luther’s Transformation
Martin Luther was transformed into a world-famous minister by reading the books of Ephesians and Romans. Martin Luther sparked off the greatest revolution the church has ever known and transformed the whole world. This great revolution and reformation came about not because of a vision that Martin Luther had seen. It came about because Martin Luther read the Bible!
He had the Bible but had not been reading it. Those who despise the art of reading are despising their own lives and ministry. Those who have respect only for visions and dreams do not understand the way God works. History has proven the power of books and the power of reading! From being an unknown priest, Martin Luther has become one of the best known names in Christendom – all through the power of reading.
- Reading a book puts you in direct contact with the author of the book. Authors are usually great men who have a lot to share. As a leader you may not have the opportunity to meet with certain people but you can make use of the books they have written. A leader knows that authors are workers and researchers for him and that many years of experience can be transmitted through one book. A leader knows that a book is a patient teacher and that he can catch an anointing from a book.
Dear leader, understand that the greatest leaders of all time were readers. Paul and Daniel are amazing examples of this. Daniel the prophet was an amazing leader and an avid reader. Daniel read Jeremiah’s books.
In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.
Daniel 9:2
Another avid reader worth emulating was Paul. Paul sent for his books and his parchments because they were very important to him.
The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments.
2 Timothy 4:13
- Reading is one of the essential habits of every leader. If you do not read, please do not try to lead anyone. Reading is essential for leadership.
- Read for growth. Read for intellectual growth. Read for spiritual growth. You will develop your mind greatly as you read. As you read, you will find out that your spirit is affected greatly by the written Word of God.
- Read to improve your language. Whatever your language, reading always improves it. The best way to learn the English language is to read English books. If you want to improve your vocabulary, please start reading now!
- Read to have fellowship with great minds and great people. Reading is a form of private interaction between yourself and another person. You can receive an anointing as you read a book. Read in order to learn how to write. You may write a book one day. You will have to write letters to people. Learn how to write by reading.
- Read to acquire new information. Most people think that acquiring new information is the only reason why you should read a book. But this is only one of many reasons why you should be a reader. Ignorance is one of the greatest enemies of mankind. If you do not read, your ignorance is self-inflicted and inexcusable.
- Read to develop your leadership abilities. Anyone who spends more money on books than on food and clothes is destined for leadership. Read because a person who does not read is no better than a person who cannot read. Read so that you will be in the top twenty per cent of society. Do you know that the top twenty percent of every society buys all books?
Daniel Webster (1782-1852), a famous statesman and prominent lawyer once said;
“If religious books are not widely circulated among the masses in this country and the people do not become religious, I do not know what is to become of us as a nation. And the thought is one to cause solemn reflection on the part of every patriot and Christian. If the truth be not diffused, error will be; if God and His Word are not known and received, the devil and his works will gain the ascendancy; if the evangelical volume does not reach every hamlet, the pages of corrupt and licentious literature will.”
Dear Leader, you can become great by reading. Develop yourself and grow by reading! Become a good leader by reading!
Culled from “A Good General”
theaol@ymail.com
By Dag Heward-Mills