Be A Positive Light In Leadership
- William Vogel
- Dec 8, 2017
- 5 min read
Leaders that go off the rail. What causes the demise or the misdirection of leadership? The issue of pride is usually the culprit. It is usually the elixir of pride mixed with deep insecurities that lead to the destruction of people who have all the gifts of leadership, but lack the skills needed for true and lasting success. We are seeing leaders fall and lose their way at an alarming pace today. Some have lost everything and they are leaders without a moral compass. Some have become extremely wealthy and notable, and have left their legacies in turmoil. Some have lost their families and some will even serve time behind bars. Even worse, some have become seriously ill and others are now frequent visitors to drug and alcohol facilities. Some are dead... and dead broke. they were once living in palatial homes, and driving the fancy cars, and experienced the adoration of the world. Their bank accounts were the envy of many. But today, their lives lay in ruin. In recent days, many have lost their way. The question one must ask as a leader is why do I want to lead? Why has God given me the opportunity to lead? What glory can I bring God for giving me the gifts and talents He has bestowed on me? Why did God choose me for this role in his world? Leaders whose goal is a quest to power over others will use people to attain that power. Those type of leaders are in tremendous danger of a great fall as they begin to believe their own press. These type of people often put on an image of invincibility, but in fact are some of the most insecure people. These kinds of leaders have an insatiable desire for press and notability. The more they get, the more they want. The danger is they begin to live outside the law and begin to believe they are invincible. They begin to skirt the truth and they begin associating with people whose values are not in alignment with the truth. They begin to listen to the voice of the great deceiver ..Satan himself. They begin to believe that they are the reason for all their success and even begin to play "God" themselves. Acknowledging their own failures, as well as being accountable to anyone, causes them to often impose their will and ideas upon others in very strained and dictatorial ways. Selfishness is often at the heart of the leaders that fall. And because of this stage, the leader becomes extremely vulnerable to a fall in disgrace. I have been blessed to know some of the wealthy and powerful, and God has allowed me to gravitate to the top of many different organizations and businesses. I have been given a glimpse into the hearts of the rich and famous. I have stayed in their homes and visited with them across the board room tables. I have traveled with them on their jets and stayed with them in exotic regions of the world. I have watched as some have destroyed their great futures. I have witnessed them destroy their marriages and families, and I have watched as some go to their graves as true winners with lasting legacies. Some no longer work and now strive to lead others down the dead end paths of life as they proclaim their messages to others across social media. Some have taken and not given, some listen while others don't. All will stand before God ..some will celebrate, when they hear our Savior and Lord proclaim those blessed words ..Matthew 25:23 " Well done thou good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord" (heaven) . Others will realize they have experienced the best that the world has to offer on this earth and in this life, but will hear the most awful words. Matthew 7: 21-23 "depart from me I never knew you." It is my prayer that none of my loved ones or friends will ever hear those words of Matthew 7. That is why I want to keep sharing the Love that Jesus has for them on every occasion I can. Pray for those in leadership. Many leaders, though they have lots of contacts, have very few true and close friends. Most are extremely lonely. Many suffer paranoia and wonder if it going to last, or if someone might turn on them. And many are dealing with great issues in their personal lives. Many have lost touch with their spouses, children and those closest to them. For many, the wives and children are trophies to display rather than to love. Now the question.. Does it need to be this way? Can a leader be different? By the grace of God they can! It boils down to where do you get your marching orders from. There is absolute Truth that Is available to model our lives after (true and lasting success modeled from God Himself) . And then there is the the pragmatism of the world and mans way which always leads to a dead end. It really boils down to who is in charge of your life and who lives in your heart. The Bible is clear, God loves the world (that means everyone and includes you). That He gave His only Son,(Jesus) that whoever believes (believes He died for our sins and was buried and on the third day arose conquering everything including death itself) should not perish (be eternally, forever separated from God in place forever) but, have eternal life (with God in Heaven in a mansion being prepared for his people as we speak). God is calling leaders who want to first of all, live for Him and He wants leaders to understand what is meant by the verse 3 John 1:2 "I wish above all things that thou may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers." Leaders can avoid these pitfalls by committing to spend time with God daily in prayer and Bible reading. A leader can benefit greatly from surrounding themselves with people that love enough to confront, especially with the absolute TRUTH. God wants each of us to know everything we are and everything we possess is from him and because of Him. A Mentor who tells you the TRUTH and lives the TRUTH is a gift from God. Leaders that have a greater capacity to look away from being heroes to becoming servants, certainly are at less risk to become one of the statistics of great potential, that now has a gravestone with the deeply engraved words, FAILURE. Always remember, very few leaders start something for the purpose of cheating, lying, or for evil. 1 Peter. 5:8 "stay alert and be of sober mind, watch out for your great enemy the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.