Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self Control – Galatians 5:22-23
Can a leader succeed without the fruit of the Spirit?
I know many leaders who are successful at influencing people. I’ve experienced inspiring, gifted communicators who motivate people to accomplish stupendous goals. I’ve worked with bold, decisive individuals who get groups to overcome obstacles and capitalize on strategic opportunities. I’ve seen creative leaders get people unstuck from their current situation to step into an exciting new future.
In each of the above examples, I can think of at least one leader who did it while acting in ways contrary to the fruit of the Spirit. If you take a moment to think about leadership you’ve witnessed, you may find similar examples of non-Spirit filled but nevertheless successful leaders.
Whether or not you know any leaders like this, you don’t have to know much history, or current-day news, to identify leaders who have incredible influence without Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self Control. The usual historical list includes Hitler, Napoleon and Stalin. But there are plenty of less notorious examples, including leaders who have accomplished things we believe are good, who led in a away that didn’t reveal the fruit of the Spirit.
I don’t believe leading is about getting people to do things that you want them to do. Leadership is helping people to achieve what God is calling the people to do. I don’t use the word “them” in that sentence, because one of the worst errors in leadership is to begin thinking in terms of “me” and “them.”
Leadership of the kind I think is worth doing keeps our relational awareness at “us”. And love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control are a solid list of characteristics that are needful in this kind of leadership.
A leader who doesn’t look to the interests of others (love, kindness) is not able to understand a collective purpose. A leader whose heart is filled with anxiety or fear instead of peace is not able to hear others’ needs. A leader who lacks patience or faithfulness gives up or changes course prematurely. One who lacks self-control may lack the discipline to grow.
Healthy, effective leaders are people who lead while being led by the Spirit. People who empower others while living in the power of the Spirit. People who confess their sins and correct their hearts and their ways.