Do your words and actions always match? (84-2)
The Lord grants favor and honor to leaders who seek Him. Read 1 Samuel 2:26 and 3:15–4:1.
John Maxwell states in his book The 360 Degree Leader that “The true measure of leadership is influence – nothing more, nothing less.” Samuel had influence. “And the boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favor with the Lord and with men.” When Samuel spoke people listened “…and He (the Lord) let none of his (Samuel’s) words fall to the ground. All Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the Lord.” What did Samuel have that other leaders did not have to garner this kind of favor from God?
From his childhood Samuel was obedient to the Lord and Eli (his elder and mentor). Obedience is described in scripture in terms of attitude and action. We see an attitude of truth and the action of obedience toward his mentor Eli when Samuel, as just a boy, delivered a heartbreaking message from God concerning the future of Eli’s family. Samuel was afraid but when his mentor requested the whole truth Samuel complied.
Leaders are still measured by their attitude and actions. They will be measured by those they report to, those on their team and the God that created them. This measuring will continue from their first nervous actions of leadership responsibility until their last. Those closest to us will evaluate our words by our actions and then judge if our words are reliable and contain truth. Leaders gain influence when their words and actions match and lose influence when their words and actions do not match.
On a scale of 1-10 with 10 indicating that your words and actions always match, how do you rate yourself? If you are a seven or below you will need to begin immediately to change your attitude and action if you have any hope to be effective in your leadership role. Your assignment:
- Go to God and ask forgiveness for the times you have not had an obedient attitude or actions toward Him.
- Create a list of actions you can take that will facilitate change in your attitude and daily actions – a list of positive action steps that you will apply to your daily life that change your inner, deeper secret truths that control your attitude and actions.
- Commit your list to God asking Him to give you truths for change from His Word and power to change from His Holy Spirit.
