Yesterday I got a weekly devotional email from a wonderful man that I met many summers ago at Camp Greystone. While I love every devotion I have received from David this week's really stood out.
Everyone does want to be liked, we are all human so that is nothing other than natural. However, there are days when we face the decision to be right or wrong and sometimes put aside that right thing just so we can stay at the top. Whether it be a tiny white lie or something that could change a relationship with someone forever it is sometimes hard to see past yourself. I hope you enjoy the following devotion as much as I did! Are you willing to be a Godly leader even it means jeopardizing your worldly popularity?
The excerpt is by Dr. David Cox, and the Scripture is in the excerpt.
Everyone likes to be liked, and it is biblical to be in good standing with our peers. In fact, the Bible says about young Jesus that He grew in favor with God and man. (Luke 2:52) One sign of a good leader, however, is the willingness to make the hard decisions that you know will be unpopular and unfavorable.
Popularity is something that most people desire but not something that can be used as the guiding light when making difficult decisions. It can be very tempting, however, to make decisions based on how others will react because of the accolades and positive cheers of those around us.
Herod ruled Galilee and imprisoned John the Baptizer for John s strong preaching and stand against adultery. Entertaining the Who s Who Crowd of Galilee at his own birthday party, Herod beheaded John even though he knew he should not do so. He was very sorry that he had put himself in such a position. He was king, and he could have done anything he wanted. So why did he go through with the beheading? Because of his dinner guests. (Mark 6:26) He had publicly promised his niece whatever... Subsequently, she had asked for John s head. Feeling that he must save face and please his guests, Herod had it done. He was a king but not a leader. He pandered to the crowd in his royal workplace instead of doing what was right and sensible. In reality, your long-term reputation and credibility take real hits when you make your decisions based on popular opinion.
At times, you must be to be a leader at the expense of being unpopular. It does not mean that you are rude or insensitive to those around you, but it simply means to do what is right. It may be that in the end you really are appreciated for the tough call you made, but even if the admiration society does not show up when you have made a wise but difficult choice, doing what is right carries with it its own reward. Making decisions based on personal popularity is like eating a bowl of banana pudding with extra marshmallows and vanilla wafers: it tastes good at the moment but if you make a regular habit of it, you are not going to like the results!
Everyone likes to be liked, and it is biblical to be in good standing with our peers. In fact, the Bible says about young Jesus that He grew in favor with God and man. (Luke 2:52) One sign of a good leader, however, is the willingness to make the hard decisions that you know will be unpopular and unfavorable.
Popularity is something that most people desire but not something that can be used as the guiding light when making difficult decisions. It can be very tempting, however, to make decisions based on how others will react because of the accolades and positive cheers of those around us.
Herod ruled Galilee and imprisoned John the Baptizer for John s strong preaching and stand against adultery. Entertaining the Who s Who Crowd of Galilee at his own birthday party, Herod beheaded John even though he knew he should not do so. He was very sorry that he had put himself in such a position. He was king, and he could have done anything he wanted. So why did he go through with the beheading? Because of his dinner guests. (Mark 6:26) He had publicly promised his niece whatever... Subsequently, she had asked for John s head. Feeling that he must save face and please his guests, Herod had it done. He was a king but not a leader. He pandered to the crowd in his royal workplace instead of doing what was right and sensible. In reality, your long-term reputation and credibility take real hits when you make your decisions based on popular opinion.
At times, you must be to be a leader at the expense of being unpopular. It does not mean that you are rude or insensitive to those around you, but it simply means to do what is right. It may be that in the end you really are appreciated for the tough call you made, but even if the admiration society does not show up when you have made a wise but difficult choice, doing what is right carries with it its own reward. Making decisions based on personal popularity is like eating a bowl of banana pudding with extra marshmallows and vanilla wafers: it tastes good at the moment but if you make a regular habit of it, you are not going to like the results!
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