Shepherd

Dear friends,

Apparently God isn't quite finished with me yet in regards to Philippians 2:3-4! My hard head came in handy this week-end though, cuz He hit me square between the eyes with a 2-by-4!!!
I had the opportunity Friday and Saturday to participate in a crash course on leadership. They used the Shepherd as their model for an ideal leader. We all know that Jesus said: "I am the Good Shepherd." (John 10:11-15). And Israel's leaders in the OT were often referred to as shepherds. Likewise in the NT there are several references to God's people like the one in 1 Peter 5:2 "Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care..."
They had us study several passages that refer to leaders as shepherds. Psalm 23 alone was enough to overwhelm me of the characteristics of a good leader! It's no surprise to me that I have a lot of growing to do... that's why I was attending! But I wasn't expecting this one...
Paul Stanley made a comment about the purpose of a leader (in a Christian environment or not) that absolutely floored me. He said that the primary role of a leader is to help his followers succeed. The followers are not there to help the leader succeed... WOW! Really?! I can see how that could be the case in a ministry context and at home with the family, but in the business world? Are the guys not hired to help ME get the job done? He challenged us to look at our followers through a whole different lens. Can you imagine if leaders in the work place saw all their employees as sheep to care for, to guide, to protect, to feed, to love, to comfort, to equip and to direct, instead of a means to complete a task, a job or a deadline?! I would think that would create a tremendous amount of loyalty among the workers and the side effect of that would pay off on the production side... let alone the spiritual impact that that would have!
"Do nothing (including leading) out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each one of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." Philippians 2:3-4
This is just a small taste of what He is teaching me about being a Christ-like leader. Thanks for praying as I look to apply these truths at home and at work amidst the pressure of meeting deadlines profitably.
In His service,
Jonathan