Is your leadership limited by your character? (68-1)

If leadership is influence, then people have a natural form of leadership that can be seen almost from birth. Read Genesis 25:26-32:32.

Jacob wielded great influence from the very beginning. He turned Isaac’s household upside down. In Genesis 25 his mother Rebekah, having a difficult pregnancy, inquired of God and found out that the older son, Esau, would serve the younger son Jacob. Now in this culture, that news will stir things up. Later, when seeking a bride, Jacob’s presence and influence turned his uncle Laban’s household upside down.

Over time, Jacob’s leadership brought him great prosperity and 12 sons that ultimately became leaders of the 12 tribes of Israel. But, even leaders gifted with tremendous natural leadership struggle as a leader if they have issues of character.

Influential, wealthy, strong and blessed with a large family and many sons, Jacob seemed to have everything. But a leader that goes his own way and seeks benefit only for himself cannot be an effective instrument in God’s hands. God had to break Jacob to make him an effective, useful leader. God had to change Jacob from the inside out from a “deceiver” to a “prince with God “who served God rather than himself.

Everyone is born with natural leadership (influencer) skills. Every child knows how to influence others whether positively or negatively. God gives every person an awareness of how to influence. Leaders who “stand out” develop these natural gifts into a skill. Character, however, is not a gift at birth but must be developed. In fact what we get at birth is a lack of character; it is called a sin nature. Yet it is the leader’s character that determines if their influence will be positive or negative in society and before God.

The good news is that character can be changed and like Jacob, every leader can become a leader that better serves God as they lead people.

What are your character strengths and weaknesses? Don’t get caught in the trap of using the world’s standard for character. How are you doing against the standards God established for holiness and godliness? When an effective leader finds an area that needs work, they seek God’s wisdom on the plan to correct their weakness.