Last week we began a series unusual to this blog but one very dear to my heart, leadership based on Godly principals. Today we continue a look at that series’ It is my prayerful attempt that perhaps someone reading this will begin to look at themselves differently in how they lead or are being led. 
However, I struggle with this topic as well. For personally I have a really difficult time, with these leadership seminars and platforms Pastors and ministry leaders want to hold today. I know of one in my area holds an all day leadership conference for Pastors. However will not spend the same effort in discipling and teaching those attending his church how to have an wander for every man that asks them of the reason why they believe what they believe.
However I do believe it is important to train and develop leaders as we are all leaders in one regard or another. So I will touch on it in the next few weeks.
Tests of Proven Leadership
With over thirty years of leadership under my belt from Entrepreneur to entry level. It seems I have heard it all. I will admit being a Ministry Leader now it seems I am hearing new things. Actually that is not the case though, I am not hearing new things just experiencing that the same lack of grace exhibited in the cold business world exists within the Body of Christ. Trust me I have heard it all.
Some have excused me of being a perfectionist, of being controlling, of leading by intimation, of micro-managing. I find these things hard to accept as I am always encouraging those I lead to lighten their load, to replace themselves, to build others, to move beyond. I myself strive to hold myself to high standards of excellence and accountability. Am I arrogant, we all are thus the basis for our sin natures. If you ever study the life of the apostle Paul you will find the following interesting facts. He was known to be hot tempered and known to chase individuals out of the room for no reason than he did not want them there. I once had a discussion with my business mentor and we were discussing others accusing us of being arrogant. He said interesting thing “I have found those who would accuse me of being arrogant have no one asking them in their lives the really tough questions.” What we found instead is when you place high standards, high expectations, high accountability on those not used to such, they may buckle. If you have never been accused of the above things are had your leadership questioned. You either have never built something from scratch, had to be the one issuing the paychecks on Friday or you are not leading, you may just be managing! Worse yet, your leading without expecting excellence.
However what is True biblical leadership supposed to look like.
True Leadership
True leadership is the ability to motivate, inspire, and encourage others to move beyond themselves to a greater level of excellence for Christ. Yes, that is my definition and if you do not like it you can dispute it. At the end of the day what is it we are to be doing as believers in Christ. Paul said in Colossians 3:10
10And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.
As leaders our job is to lead in the way and serve others in such fashion as to enable and ease the process so to speak. So that as Paul said grow in knowledge of and please God in every way.
Someone said excellence was not important as long as we were pleasing God. Another was said to say don’t wait till it is excellent to do it just do it.
While there is a lot of truth in both statements, there are also some errors.
There are some quotes I like as I reflect on excellence
Perhaps you have heard some perhaps not.
“Perfection I leave in God’s hands, excellence I can do. “
“Pride is a personal commitment. It is an attitude which separates excellence from mediocrity.”
Some would say we are not to be prideful.
To that I would say than let pride not be your motivational factor but that you firmly believe and live Colossians 3:23-24
23Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
Do you believe God is interested in a little bit more or mediocrity or the standard norm? Do you believe that it is possible to grow and call tomorrows best yesterdays best? Or do you believe tomorrows best should be a further step? Do you believe the process of inspiring the best out of others is an easy process?
See I believe God is best honored with a life lived to God that understands that “Excellence is the result of caring more than others think is wise; risking more than others think is safe; dreaming more than others think is practical; expecting more than others think is possible.” 
What do you think excellence looks like?
How do you believe leaders best exhibit it and inspire others to it?
Next week we will look further at the subject of excellence.
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