Everyone is a leader in their own right. You don’t have to have a title to lead. Age is not a factor and gender is not a prerequisite for leadership. In other words, you don’t have to be an adult or a man to lead. Some of us have erroneously thought that only males can lead, while the remaining people must learn to submit and follow. Some others have also believed that only certain people born into a certain class can lead. Some have thought only those who are educated and have a PhD can lead. Some others have believed only some certain people with certain color can lead. That is simply not true! Anyone can lead because they created by God.
Our leadership mandate came to be when God said: “let us make man in our image and after our likeness and let them have dominion over…” (Gen 1: 26) right from the beginning of time. So, by reason of your creation, you are a leader. God made you to have dominion (Ps 8: 6). He has delegated HIs authority to you so that you can fully and truly represent Him. He has also made His wisdom available to you so that you can do it well.
Moreover, He has crowned you with glory and honor so that you can function in that capacity. You must accept this to experience what God has said about you. God needs you, the world needs you, and the whole creation needs you to come alive and lead.
We read in Proverbs 8: 14-16
Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom;
I am understanding, I have strength.
By me kings reign,
And rulers decree justice.
By me princes rule, and nobles,
All the judges of the earth.
We have lots of people today who have forgotten how to lead because they lack one of the ingredients necessary for credible leadership. They lack wisdom. We have people today who are just occupying space but not leading.
Leadership is about influence and you need wisdom to have a positive influence on people. You need wisdom to be an effective leader. If you are not wise, you can’t rule well, judge well, or take charge. You need wisdom to give good advice, direction, and instruction. A leader who lacks judgment is a disaster in the making or and is going somewhere to happen. It is a bad business!
Leadership is in two folds: personal and corporate. In personal leadership, you lead yourself and you do so with self-control. In corporate leadership, you lead others. But without the wisdom of God, you won’t do well for yourself. You will be indiscipline.
Furthermore, leadership comes with power. It is a privilege to be put in charge of everything God has made. If you are not wise, you will abuse, misuse your power, position, and authority (Pro 28: 16). I am sure you have seen lots of people in our world today who have allowed power to get to their head. They have been corrupted and become tyrants with the power that has been entrusted to them. They have gone rogue as it were and become uncontrollable. They have compromised themselves. I know you know that absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Wisdom is built on the fear of God and this fear is what causes people to depart from evil and wickedness. When we refuse to allow God’s wisdom to reign in our hearts, we will use power as a weapon of oppression and not a means for justice. We must learn to balance power with wisdom. This act is what makes and keeps us humble.
A simple definition of humility is the ability to balance power with wisdom. If you want to reign in life and become a person who touches people’s lives and uses power for healing and creating an environment where people can thrive and fulfill their destiny, you need wisdom.
Do you want to reign in life? You need wisdom. Do you want to self-govern? You need wisdom. Do you want to abide under the lordship of Jesus and lead a surrendered life? You need wisdom.
Prayer: Dear God, help me to understand that you have made, called, and anointed me to be a leader. Help me to see myself as one. Help me also to use the power that you have given me for what it is meant. Help me to be a wise leader in Jesus’ name. Amen!
