Leading with the Mind of Christ
By Dean Collins
Name a great leader. What attributes or characteristics come to mind? In a 2023 survey of more than 4,000 adults, US News and World Report got these results for the top 10 leadership traits that Americans want from leaders:
Trustworthy, honest, hardworking, ethical, loyal, hardworking, strategic, passionate, decisive, and driven.
Not a bad list. Generally, this order was the same for the top four attributes, regardless of the respondents’ age, gender, and political affiliation. There was some variance in the ranking of the other 26 traits. It is noteworthy, I think, to consider some of the attributes that were in the bottom 10 of the 30 possible traits: humble, generous, articulate, selfless, and vulnerable.
In 1 Corinthians 2, we find a description of Paul’s approach to ministry. Paul indicated that he did not seek to behave or lead in the patterns of the world’s wisdom or the style or behavior of worldly leaders. Paul’s approach was one of humility and based on spiritual wisdom.
“Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.”
At the end of this chapter’s discussion of worldly versus spiritual wisdom, Paul states, “But we have the mind of Christ.”
What is interesting to consider in the leadership traits that we desire is that some of the attributes Jesus possessed were in the top of the list but some rather significant ones were at the bottom of the list, such as being humble, generous, selfless, and vulnerable. I point this out so that we can consider how much we tend to evaluate leaders through a worldly lens instead of a spiritual lens.
For those of us who desire to follow Jesus, this passage of scripture might be a reminder to seek the wisdom from above over the wisdom of the world. In Philippians 2, the apostle Paul gives us more information on the mind of Christ which we are to seek:
“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”
When we surrender fully to Jesus and seek to possess the mind of Christ, we will find that God will use us to lead others to discover his love and grace. When we lead in the ways of Jesus, our churches, our organizations, and our community will experience transformation that is likely very different than what will result if we seek to follow the world’s leaders.
Father, today we ask that you renew our minds so that we would truly live in ways that reflect the ways of our Savior and Lord, Jesus. In his name we pray, amen.
Your Time with God’s Word
1 Corinthians 2:1-16; Philippians 2:3-8 ESV
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