Recent events serve as an important reminder that leadership matters. Great leaders exceed expectations. Trustworthy leaders take responsibility for their decisions and their actions. They don’t shirk away from accountability. When the going gets tough, they don’t hop on the first available plane and leave their people behind. Good leaders weigh the cost of putting their people in harm’s way, especially their soldiers. Not everybody is fit to lead.
In my experience, the best leaders seek wise counsel, but ultimately they make the decision. Trustworthy leaders own up to their decisions regardless of how they turn out. A man I worked for years ago once pointed out that leaders who claim to hold a perfect track record when it comes to decision-making simply haven’t made many decisions.
When there is moral rot within a nation, its government topples easily. But wise and knowledgeable leaders bring stability.
Proverbs 28:2 (NLT)
A wise, discerning leader is able to maintain order and keep a team focused on reaching the shared objective. Incompetency breeds poor performance even from the all-stars on a team. You’ve likely witnessed this before or, even more likely, you’ve experienced it firsthand.
Social and political unrest are the fruit harvested from sinfulness. Corrupt and inept leaders sow discord and dissension among their people. Nothing good grows from evil. If leaders treat people like they want to be treated then moral rot has little opportunity to take root. Good leadership breeds stability.
Like you, T and I have watched the news surrounding Afghanistan with horror and frustration. Our hearts ache for those suffering from the latest hurricane to rock Louisiana and the surrounding states. In the latter situation, good leadership appears to have reduced the number of people in harm’s way. In the first situation, misguided leadership looks to have placed thousands of people in harm’s way. Christians in Afghanistan are preparing for massive persecution from the ruling Taliban. The underground church in Afghanistan finds itself digging a deeper hole in which to hide. Afghanistan is rapidly becoming a model of what bad leadership looks like in full and living color. Furthermore, in Afghanistan we are seeing the results of poor, misguided decision-making.
What happens when leaders make poor decisions? People are put at risk while the team is left to answer for the decisions their leaders make.
Scripture makes clear that leadership is a spiritual gift. Gifted leaders encourage others to follow the best direction for their team.
If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.
Romans 12:8 (NLT)
Great leaders aren’t perfect decision-makers. On the flipside, when their decisions misfire, they don’t run and hide like cowards either.
Something worth pondering…
Humbly,
The Devotional Guy™
The Devotional Guy™ 
Good leadership grows stability. Thanks, Rainer!
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My pleasure, David! Have a blessed day.
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We need to expect good leadership which serves with humility. No leader (or nation) is perfect, but we need to seek common ground for future stability. Indeed, we have much to pray for.
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Serving with humility is definitely the key. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
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