Leading not only involves LOVING and EXAMPLING. Leading involves ASKING. Ask others to join the journey, to take the next step, to stretch their stride, to raise the bar, take the next hurdle, take the next hill, and realize the next goal. Do not be afraid to ask people to help you solve a problem. We need to ask others to consider new possibilities and dream great dreams. Leaders help others realize their goals. Leaders develop teams and promote teamwork. Jesus invited others to join Him- "Come and see". "Come, follow me." He asked them to do things they had never done before.
We have not because we ask not. We do not have because we do not ask God (James 4:2). Loving leaders know how to ASK God for big things and little things. Jesus promises that if we "ask and keep on asking, seek and keep on seeking, knock and keep on knocking" your persistent faith will be rewarded (Matt 7:7; Hebrews 11:6). He taught His workers to ask that they be sent more workers (Matthew 9:38). He said, "If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer” (Matthew 21:22). The Living Bible paraphrases James 1:5: "If you want to know what God wants you to do, ask him, and he will gladly tell you, for he is always ready to give a bountiful supply of wisdom to all who ask him; he will not resent it."
We learn by asking. It may be common but it is not manly, to not stop and ASK for directions. Take this advice from the Book of Jeremiah:
Stand at the crossroads and look;
ask for the ancient paths,
ask where the good way is, and walk in it,
and you will find rest for your souls. (Jeremiah 6:16)
'Quest'ions are a key to the quest. We grow in wisdom, knowledge and understanding by asking good questions and listening for the answers.
A leader needs to ASK. Ask others to join the journey. Ask God for His wisdom and supply. Ask questions that further the quest and get you where you want to go. And you must not be afraid to ask greater things of yourself. Do you really want to grow?
Finally, Leadership involves DECIDING on a course of action. The word 'decision' is derived from two Latin roots: 'cidere' (to cut) and 'de' (away from). Whereas an 'incision' means 'having cut into', a 'decision' means 'having cut away from'. In order to decide on one course of action, we must eventually cut away others. Today we love to keep our options open. As a result we put off making decisions. Yes, we need to consider alternatives and carefully weigh options, but there comes a time when a decision needs to be made. Jesus spoke of two roads (Matt 7:13-14). One leads to death. One leads to life. You must cut yourself away from one and choose the other. He spoke of two trees. One with good fruit. One with bad fruit. (Matt 7:15-23). You must eat from one and not the other. He spoke of two plans for building: one good and one foolish (7:24-27). To choose one course of action, you must cut away from another.
Peter Drucker says, "A leader not only decides what to do, he must decide what to do first." Jesus said that we need to get our sense of priorities from God, for the values of the eternal kingdom are contrary to those of this age that is passing away. Seek first the kingdom (Matthew 6:33).
Do you have a conviction that you are called to lead? Lead by:
L- LOVING the person in front of you
E- EXAMPLING; Exhibit a pattern for others to follow.
A- ASKING for heavenly and earthly participaction
D- DECIDING to implement effective strategy by doing the most important thing first.
Pattern yourself after exemplary leaders, the greatest of which is Christ. Do not be afraid to ask others for 'buy in'; to join the quest; a quest that is seeks the answers to questions. As you ask God for wisdom, choose healthy courses of action, by decisively cutting away dead-wood alternatives. Consider your options, then hack away. Let your loving leadership live!
C.2000 David K MacAdam, from a message given to Life Group Leaders.