The Art of Leadership
A leader’s work involves interacting with people and bringing them along to achieve the goals set within a reasonable period and in the best way possible. On this journey, weaknesses and faults are revealed. Leadership can also be described as the art of overlooking faults. It is almost impossible to effectively lead without intentionally overlooking faults, mistakes, and shortcomings of others.
If you have invested in the lives of people, it will definitely yield something. Sometimes, a leader has to battle with the negative fruits that come to him after he has sown good seeds in people. This will discourage every leader. Do not be overwhelmed by the shortcomings of those you trust or lead. Give it some time!
Remember that truth without grace is dangerous! Truth without grace would have eliminated most of the followers of Christ. In fact, almost all the twelve disciples would have been eliminated. Think about Peter and how he vehemently denied knowing Jesus when Jesus needed him most.
And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, this fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man. And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee. Then
began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man” Matthew 26:71-74.
The story is no different today. Most Christians would not make the mark if God dealt with us based only on the truth. Let’s face it, how many Christians really do what God tells them to do? If the church were to wipe out its mistake-laden members, most churches would be empty. It is a blessing to be a leader who is able to mix truth with grace. Indeed, a good leader mixes truth with grace to gain more followers! Jesus is our great example in this!
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father) full of grace and truth.
John 1:14
Jesus Knew the Truth about Thomas but He Mixed It with Grace
Thomas did not believe that Christ could rise from the dead. And Jesus knew it. The truth about this great apostle was that he did not believe in the resurrection even though Jesus had told them about it. The grace of God gave Thomas another opportunity to become a believer. And he did! A mixture of grace and truth gave birth to another ardent follower of Jesus Christ, in Thomas.
And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas
answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. John 20:26-29
Jesus Knew the Truth about His Disciples But He Mixed it with Grace
Jesus knew the truth about His very own disciples. He knew that his disciples would desert him when he needed them the most.
…Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.
Matthew 26:56
Many of Jesus’ disciples went back to their secular jobs after Jesus left. In fact, Peter the rock mooted the idea of going back to the lives they had before Jesus became a part of it.
There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples. SIMON PETER SAITH UNTO THEM, I GO A FISHING. THEY SAY UNTO HIM, WE ALSO GO WITH THEE. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.
John 21:2, 3
The grace of God made Jesus ignore the frailties, weaknesses and mistakes of His followers.
He overlooked their faults and allowed His men to become mighty apostles. I am sure it was no mean task to do this. But herein lies the lesson: If you overlook the faults of your followers and work with them, you will bear more fruits!
A leader is a father. And every father believes that one day his son will become great. Let us pray this to be the portion of our leaders – that they will be leaders who are able to mix truth with grace! Great grace be upon them as they become leaders who are able to mix grace with truth!
theaol@ymail.com
By Dag Heward-Mills