Are you the real leader or just the person in charge? (85-2)
As we transition from Samuel to other leaders in the book of 1 Samuel, it will be helpful to look at the difference between a real leader and the person that may be in charge. Some of the Biblical leaders that had positional authority were godly leaders but not all of them. A godly leader will demonstrate personal authority and the person in charge is generally granted positional authority. Some leaders will have both and some only one but if you must choose, choose personal authority. Read 1 Samuel 9, 10 and 13.
John Maxwell hits the nail squarely on the head concerning leaders and the person merely put in charge in his notes in The Maxwell Leadership Bible:
From Serving to Leading
God calls every leader to be a servant, but not every servant is to be a leader. So, how do we take the step to leadership?
In Hebrew, the word we translate as “leader” (nagiyd) comes from a root that conveys the idea of servant hood and being an example to others. The word is variously translated in Scripture as captain, ruler, prince, governor, and noble.
Leaders vs. King
The Hebrew term for “leader” stands in sharp contrast to the word for “king.” The fairly neutral Hebrew term for “king” (melech) allowed for the possibility of independence, for being a maverick. Samuel warned against this very thing when the Israelites asked for a king. Melechs might be renegades, but nagiyds were those under authority, subject to a higher power and fulfilling the wishes of that higher power. Saul was a melech, while Samuel was a nagiyd.
To be a captain, ruler, prince, governor, or noble of the people of God, a person must first come squarely under the authority of God. We can go no further without first understanding this element. Yet a second element is just as important. The Hebrew term nagiyd also means to stand boldly, to announce, to manifest – the natural outgrowth of receiving commands from God. The leader is to boldly stand and communicate God’s commands with conviction.
God’s leader is first to be a servant of the Lord, then an example, then a proclaimer and communicator to the people. And no one did this better than Samuel.
Effective godly leaders strive to be nagiyds and do not settle for being a melech! On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being a nagiyd and one being a melech, how are you doing? What actions do you need to take to move up the scale one number?
