Leadership Hearts and Hands

Leadership Hearts and Hands

The Bible has a lot to say about leadership. In fact, it goes out of its way to present a picture of what positive, caring leadership involves. As Christians we can show spiritual leadership. In this regard, one of my favourite leadership verses is Psalm 78:72. Having said that God took David from caring for ewes and lambs and made him the shepherd of God’s people, the Israelites; God now describes David’s leadership style:

“He cared for them with a true heart and led them with skillful hands” (NLT).

Here in just 14 brief words, God describes what good leadership always involves. There are always two dimensions to it: a heart and a hand aspect. All positive, caring leadership starts in the heart. In fact, we could say that the heart of leadership is indeed the heart.

King Solomon, David’s son, knew exactly what type of heart was the best for any positive, caring leader. At the start of Solomon’s reign, when God gave him the opportunity to ask for anything he wanted, Solomon said in 1 King 3:9:

“Give me an understanding heart so I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong” (NLT).

The words translated here as “an understanding heart” literally say “a listening heart”. All good leaders have a listening heart, a heart willing to take the time to hear others and to discover exactly what is best in each and every situation.

From the wellspring of the heart, good leadership then moves to the hands. Remember what Psalm 78:72 says:

“He cared for them with a true heart and led them with skillful hands” (NLT).

Having taken the time to listen, a leader then acts!

In the Bible there is a wonderful leadership principle called the “in your hand” principle. When God called Moses to lead the Israelites in Exodus 3:2 we are told:

“Then the LORD asked him, ‘What is that in your hand?’   ‘A shepherd’s staff,’ Moses replied” (NLT).

Then 40 years later, when God asked Joshua to replace Moses in the leadership position, God said to Joshua in Joshua 8:18:

“Point the spear in your hand toward Ai, for I will hand the town over to you” (NLT).

In other words, since Moses was a shepherd, God was asking him to lead the people like a shepherd. He was to use the shepherd’s staff in his hand. Since Joshua was a soldier, God was asking him to lead the people like a soldier. He was to use the soldier’s spear in his hand.

There is great encouragement and comfort here for us as Christians. God asks us to act using the unique skills and talents we have. God only asks us to lead others as ourselves, not as someone else. The hands God has given us, and what He has placed in them, is what we can use to lead others skillfully. This principle is true for any type of leadership position. It is true for both the clergy and laity alike. When we act, we do so as ourselves and using the talents and skills God has given us.

God bless you as you lead and show spiritual leadership. God bless your leadership hearts and your leadership hands. God bless you as you listen and God bless you as you act. Then God will always be able to say about you:

“[They] cared for them with true heart[s] and led them with skillful hands” (based on Psalm 78:72 NLT).

Steve Jaensch