Are you a leader?
Or rather, let me put it this way…
Are you aspiring to be a leader in your chosen career as a professional sometime soon?
Or, as a leader in your little capacity, do you want to be a great leader in such and such years’ time?
Wish no more! You can be a great leader, much more than you desire! Cool right? Read on…
Joshua’s life as a leader of a great nation, Israel, holds some great thought-provoking lessons for today’s young professionals who want to lead in his/her chosen career.
First, let’s acquaint ourselves with the man Joshua, and the qualities that stood him out and qualified him to take over from Moses, a reverend leader of the great nation.
“And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the Lord commanded Moses.” (Deuteronomy 34: 9)
To Lead, Be Led
Joshua spent 20 years in Egypt, 40 years in the wilderness and then 50 in the Promised Land. God used the first 60 years of his life to prepare him to lead His people into the Promised Land.
He was patient and acted dutifully while he passed through a refining process as an assistant to Moses.
A great leader must first be willing to be led.
As a start-up entrepreneur, who is at the verge of implementing a great idea conceived for your business, you must have a mentor to learn from; or should have worked in, and gathered enough experiences at a standard organisation where similar operations with your brain-child enterprise are carried out. Like Joshua, pass through the refining process, and you are set to be a great leader in that spec.
Leaders Are Courageous
Courage is a word used to describe a man of war, and Joshua exemplified that character. Four times in the first chapter of the book of Joshua, Joshua was told to be courageous. Perhaps he was afraid more than the passage tells us. But he did not shrink back in fear. He overcame every obstacle and courageously took the people to the Promised Land.
Is there something in your life that feels risky? It takes courage to be a leader, you know. Leadership is a risk; and only the risk takers lead successfully. God honours courage. Stand on His promises rather than fearing obstacles that seemed imminent.
Leaders Don’t Quit
Have you seen an athlete who suddenly quit the race just about foot to the finishing line? Never! That’s the character great leaders have. They never quit because they believe just a foot more, a little push, may lead to their breakthrough. Therefore, they are source of motivation to their followers.
Joshua never quit despite the challenges he faced at the warfront as a soldier. He focused on the words of God in full assurance, and faithfully obeyed His every command. God was his backup when human strength failed him. To be a great leader, you must have a viable backup for every challenge that you may come across. And that backup must be stronger than your up-front. Sometimes as a great leader, you don’t need to take the lead position, but you can be the backup to a chosen leader.
To conquer the Canaanites, Joshua (and Caleb) was the backup Moses needed to spy out the land. But as a leader of a troop in the warfront when defeat was imminent, Moses was the stronger backup Joshua relied on for victory. Got the analogy? So as an aspiring leader, what or who is your backup?
Leaders Build Loyal Relationship
Meanwhile, did you know that Joshua did not fight his battles alone? He was not a lone ranger. He did not march around Jericho city alone nor was any of his battles won alone. He was a leader who commands respect from his followers. So he enlisted the respect of his troops and had thousands of men who were faithfully fighting alongside him. The people did as he commanded because of his character.
Don’t be a leader who forces your subordinate to act. Rather, position yourself to let your character command the respect you need to lead them. To be a great leader like Joshua, command respect; don’t demand it.
Great Leaders Devote To God And His Word
The secret of Joshua’s success was his devotion to the word of God. He knew the words of God, and the book of the law never departed from his mouth and he meditated on it day and night. He was careful to observe and do according to all that is written in it. His way was made prosperous because he depended on God’s word. No wonder he had GOOD SUCCESS (Joshua 1:8)!
One thing was present in his life before his appointment as the chosen leader who shall end the exodus of the Israelites in the wilderness.
The Holy Scripture says, “Joshua the son of Nun was FULL OF THE SPIRIT OF WISDOM; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel hearkened unto him…” (Deuteronomy 34:9). His wisdom was not carnal or worldly, but backed by the Spirit of God. No wonder he had no stress leading the people.
Take a cue from that. Without the Spirit of God to direct you, you won’t be able to lead effectively.
Friend, the most important thing in life is our walk with God. It is essential that we know His Word and obey it in order to please Him. Then He can direct our path as He directed Joshua’s and made him a great leader.
Are you saved? If not, confess your sins and surrender your life to Jesus this moment. That’s the first step towards a relationship with God. And just like He did with Joshua, He will fill you with the Spirit Of Wisdom – that will help you be an influential leader.
The world truly needs another Joshua. And you can be the Joshua of our time! The world is waiting to be led.
Are you ready to lead?
