The Foundation for all Leadership
The administration of righteousness and justice is the foundation for all leadership. This is why battles are not necessarily won by just strength or mite, but they are won through the wise counsel of Godly leaders. Lovers of righteousness and justice feel a deep burden for those who have been exploited by others manipulation. That “smell of exploitation” mobilizes the righteous to both intercession and action. These leaders passionately remind those who have been assigned to them of their responsibility towards one another.
Confrontation takes on an essential role, however confrontation isn’t to prove how right we are as leaders and how wrong everyone else is. Confrontation is for the purpose of healing, transformation and the need for Godly solutions. What makes our speech beautiful is when we articulate the praises of God and prophesy the Lord’s heart in the area of crisis. Our voice becomes beautiful to the Lord when we quote what He has spoken to us. Our voice then confronts those who yearn to capitalize upon the misfortune of others conditions. We become a plumb line to the culture that is being pulled into a humanistic, philosophical mindset. For then, as leaders we diligently search for the right words to impart both understanding and revelation. With both eagerness and intentionality, we search for the right words, carefully choosing what we should say.
Every leader must weigh what he or she verbalizes, they must weave together a tapestry of truth, they must arrange their thoughts. Because timely words change the spiritual landscape of nations. The administration of righteousness and justice can’t be carried out unless the lips of leadership are filled with grace.
What does it mean to have lips that are filled with grace? I believe that it means to learn to lead people with generosity, because without generosity it’s virtually impossible to redeem them. When we look at the biblical context in Ruth we see Boaz leading with generosity. His heart is deeply moved by Ruth’s loyalty to Naomi and Ruth’s diligence in the field. Boaz then feels responsible to administer both righteousness and justice on behalf of Ruth and her mother in law. Boaz’s voice transforms the landscape of these two women in the narrative.
His overwhelming generosity breaks the vicious cycle of poverty and death, shame and humiliation.
Another example is the story of the Good Samaritan. Have we ever wondered why the Levite and the Pharisee walked away from the man who had been beaten and robbed? I believe it was because they were led by “time” and not by generosity. In other words, stopping to help disrupted their plans and therefore they missed an opportunity to love their neighbor. Which is what true justice is.
Both of these stories give us a tremendous framework for leadership and generosity as we look for opportunities to reach others. I am convinced that in the season that many of us are in, this important moment in our lives, the Holy Spirit is giving His church an awareness and a strategy to lead with generosity.
Sincerely,
John Harke Team