Do you have healthy relationships with other leaders? (93-3)
Effective leaders develop healthy relationships with those on their team and with other leaders in a 360-degree circle i.e. those that work for them, beside them and above them. There are times when a leader will use the special bond of a healthy relationship to give needed encouragement that would not be accepted without the relationship and there will be times when a leader needs to draw on the strength of a healthy relationship to confront or counsel other leaders in their sphere of influence. Read 2 Samuel 12.
Nathan had the unenviable job of confronting his friend David, the king of Israel, who had committed despicable acts against the laws of Israel, a friend and God. Nathan knew that his old friend had committed adultery with another man’s wife, had arranged for this man’s murder through a general in his army who put the man in a certain-death combat situation, and that David had effectively covered up these acts by using the power and influence he had as the king.
David was God’s chosen man to lead His people and Nathan was God’s chosen leader to keep David from destroying his right to lead through selfish, destructive decisions and actions. Nathan didn’t confront David as a concerned citizen or even as a friend. Nathan went to David as a leader in Israel, as God’s spokesperson. Was Nathan angry at what David had done? It didn’t matter. Nor did it matter what price Nathan thought David should pay for his sin. At this moment God needed someone with enough maturity to challenge David and then restore him to God’s love and service. God chose Nathan because he had a trusted relationship with David, knew God’s law, but more importantly, God chose Nathan because Nathan knew God’s heart. He knew that God wanted to restore David.
Nathan was a leader, and leaders are obligated to do what’s right. What Nathan wanted to say to David, or what he thought God should have done, didn’t matter. As a leader of God’s people, as a servant of God, he followed God’s bidding. And God’s will was for Nathan to represent Him and restore David to wholeness. Nathan didn’t function as a judge or executioner. Nathan served as a surgeon of the soul. And through his intervention David became God’s restored child.
The manner in which Nathan approached this situation is a story you don’t want to miss and will be addressed in Day 4 of this week. This is high drama leading up to the confrontation and the aftermath of the confrontation could make a wonderful movie so you owe it to yourself to read 2 Samuel 12 for the details.
Is there a need for you to become God’s “surgeon of the soul” leader for another leader in your sphere of influence? Pray and ask God if, because you are the person who has relationship and knows the facts, you are His choice to bring restoration of this leader’s life to God’s established principles for leaders. Even if you have relationship and appear to be the logical choice from all human wisdom, pray before you act and don’t act until God gives the assignment.
No comments:
Post a Comment