MEASURING UP TO GOD’S STANDARD FOR EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP

The wife of a drunkard once found her husband in a filthy condition with torn
clothes, matted hair, bruised face, asleep in the kitchen having come home from
a drunken revel. She quickly sent for a photographer and had a portrait of him,
taken in all his wretched appearance. She placed the picture on the table where
he could see it, beside another portrait taken at the time of their marriage.

In the marriage picture, he was looking handsome and well dressed, as he had
been in other days. But in the drunken picture, he was complete opposite. After
he woke up from his drunken state of mind, he became sober and then; he saw the
two pictures place on the table by his wife – he was sad the more. That awakened
him to a consciousness of his condition. Then, he made up his mind to live a
better life.

The story above certainly will do well to challenge every one of us who are
called to the position of leadership, to realize God’s expectation from us.
There is no gainsay in the fact that a leader is ‘a repairer’, that is entrusted
with the lives of people under him or her, to mend their broken hearts, tolerate
their weaknesses, chat a cause of destiny for them, help their dreams to be
realized and show them a better way of doing things, without compromise. A
leader must constantly see that he or she is a merchant of hope. No one can
lead other people except by showing them a future. True leaders are those who
must lead by example, rather than by intimidation or blackmail. To be a leader
is to value and be willing to maintain God’s standard in all you do or wherever
you may be leading from.

However, don’t be too carried away by the glamour associated to being a leader,
without understanding how to make it work in Godly manner, that can deliver
result and still fulfill Kingdom mandate on earth. In other words, to be a
leader is not just about leading. It is about leading effectively. That is an
herculean task! And so many leaders of today can not comprehend it deeply. But
for it to be clearly understood, you need to know that there are standards laid
down by God for us to follow; or else anything done outside of that will be a
ruse. This is where the problem is!

All around us today – in ministry, politics, family, community, school, industry
and governance; everybody wants to be a leader. But not everybody wants to do it
in God’s way. Now, people force their way into leadership because they are not
found to have measured up, at least to the basic tenet of leadership engagement.


God has a standard. And those who are following Him must queue up to it, if the
work will be done as He wants it. You must know that the ways of the world is;
and can never be the ways of God. Since He is the one who called you by saying –
“Follow Me and I will MAKE YOU… (Mark 1:17). Your making it in leadership is
dependent on how you can adhere to His standard. That means, to do great work,
or build His people effectively in leadership, will be simpler if only you can
measure up to His requirement, which is not ambiguous. In fact, Bible confirm
this: “His law (commandment, principle) are not grievous – 1 John 5:3. God will
never compromise His Standard. You are the one that must step up for Him to use
you, according to your willingness to abide by His rule.

WHAT IS STANDARD
Standard, is the level that is considered to be acceptable for something to be
done. It is a guiding principle for strict enforcement of required measurement,
which will become a pattern that can comply with any code of practice.


By this, it does mean Biblically that "standard" refers to an accepted criterion
of measurement for length or capacity of a thing, as we see in 2 Chron. 3:3. In
this case, it will be criteria for judgment of character, acceptance, behavior,
or worth in leadership.Therefore, to walk or work with God must be with the
intention to also follow Him duly; and abide by always by His measurement, as
may be reflected in the instructions He passes across for His work to be done
effectively, at any time. Specifically, God instructed Moses to build His work
by maintaining standard He laid down. “ And let them make me a sanctuary; that I
may dwell among them. According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of
the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye
make it” (Ex 25:8-9).

Still in Ezek. 45:9-12, God declared the measurement that will conform to what
He expected those who lead in the administration of justice. He always knows
what He wants; how He wants it and why. King Solomon was wiser to carefully
built God’s house and lead His people by prescribed standard (1 Chron. 6; 1
kings 3:4-14,6:1-2). If he had not followed the standard laid down by God for
His house to be built; Solomon would have been done away with just as his father
David.

DANGER OF NOT MEASURING UP TO STANDARD
Organizations all over the world are always mindful of the work or project they
do; and how it must be done in order to have a lasting structure. Things that
are done without respect for standard usually do no last. For example, goods
produced in the factory without standard quality control can never compete for
advantage in the market. Because of this, manufacturing companies spend hundred
of millions to equip their Quality Control Unit (QCU), so that they maintain
standard in their production. Likewise, for a leader to do well in leadership a
measurement of requirement is needed to be able attain God’s standard.

Inability to measure up to divine standard is the reason why many people are
failing and crumbling in their leadership pursuit. Failure to constantly
connect to God in measuring to His standard will cause the following:
· Absence of solid relationship with God.
· Lack of godly vision and personal drive to move people towards goals.
· Unyielding to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
· Control by fear and inner struggle.
· Inadequate knowledge and training on leadership.
· Raising substandard workers to work with.
· Promoting personal status and worth over God’s expectation
· Exposure to ridicule and rejection
· Lack of confidence in facing people with God’s principle.

MEASURING UP TO GOD’S STANDARD
Working for God is the most beautiful and sweetest experience anyone can have in
a life time. But working for Him without clear understanding of what He wants
and how He wants it can be traumatic and frustrating. Leaders, who do not
understand God and how He works, will continue to suffer in leadership. Having
understood these, there is a need here to make clear God’s standard that can
enhance leadership work.

1. The standard of Service
Ability to serve others is the quickest way to get work done in leadership; and
it promote faster than any paper qualification. David was serving in the bush
before God considered him for the throne in the city. Anyone who disregards
service can not go far in leadership. To God, the way to the top, starts from
the bottom.
2. The standard of Character
General Schwarzkopf, a former U.S army general said, “Leadership is a
combination of strategy and Character. If you must be without one, be without
strategy. Leaders are failing today – be it in ministry; politics; industry;
academic or governance, because they character. Without character, you will
travel so slowly and lonely in life. God considers character seriously.
3. The standard of Intercession
Prayer is entreating and engaging God to intervene in matter beyond human
wisdom, strength and comprehension. It is very essential to survive in
leadership because whatever is worth worrying about is worth praying about.
4. The standard of Humility
The more humble you are; the more people you will attract. Proud people are
usually discarded by God to be used of; so they force their way into leadership
work. God value humility and it is a major measurement for anyone wishing to do
His work. Humble leaders attract more grace but proud people attract trouble and
rejection, both by God and men.
5. The standard of Influence
It is a common fact that rulers use force; but a leader that wants to be
effective will use influence. It is the ability to work with; and move people
without using using force. To be effective in leadership, do away with the use
of blackmail in order to get people to your side. The influence of David(the
Sheppard boy), was enough to sway people’ sentiment in his favour against King
Saul.