September 12. How Many Loves Do Leaders Embrace?

Leaders are lovers. I do not mean the romantic type although they can certainly be that as well. I mean that leaders will generally embrace the concept of love in one of two ways. There is the self-promoting leader. This leader looks to take credit for everything the team or members accomplish.

The purpose of the team is to advance the career of the leader or to achieve a greater reward for the leader. There are several byproducts to this type of leadership. They may include higher levels of achievement, sales, and profitability. This type of leadership also has some high costs associated with it as well.

I suspect that you know what those are if you have been around this type of leader. But the other type of leader and love associated with them is the lover of another. This type of leader has their focus on the customer, the team delivering value and then themselves.

This leader has a focus on others first although they still must have some love of self. To work with others at a deeper level we need some love for ourselves. It is difficult for others to share their agape love of us when we do not have a level of love for ourselves. We just need to focus on the right recipe.

Where does your recipe need some adjustment this week? Perhaps you do not think that your recipe needs any adjustment. If so, are you willing to ask those that you are leading how they would rank your leadership love. Let us place our focus on the love in our leadership this week. Someone will appreciate it and it might be you. What is the first thing that you can do about it this week?

As a follower of Jesus, Christians have received a new life. We hold to the belief that we have wronged others and sinned. We also believe that Jesus has paid the sacrifice for our sins though. We get reborn in heart and mind to lead our lives a different way. We still have the challenges to overcome the demands and desires of the world.

We are asked by our selfish interests to succeed and to meet our culture's expectation of success as well. We read, “Now I am coming to you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you. I don’t want what you have—I want you. After all, children don’t provide for their parents. Rather, parents provide for their children. I will gladly spend myself and all I have for you, even though it seems that the more I love you, the less you love me.” 2 Corinthians 12:14-15 NLT.

Paul is sharing in this passage that his actions are based on his love for others. He wants others, specifically to know that Jesus has sacrificed himself for them and that a different way of life is possible. The lens of love magnifies different objects.

One lens will magnify our selves while the lens of Jesus will magnify others and our relationship with them. As a leader who follows Christ, Where can you put your focus on love of others at another level this week. It just takes one step to change the level. Which one will be the step for you?

Let us pray, Heavenly Father, we come to you in love today. Guide our hearts and minds to recognize the need for love. Make our actions be those that are focused more on loving others than succeeding. Succeeding at the cost of love is no success at all.

Draw us closer to you this week by encouraging our ability to lead with love. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen,,