I shopped for a couple items in a big-box store today and was amazed by my experience! I picked up one item but couldn’t find the other department. A manager saw me for a second time and asked me what I was looking for. He directed me to one shelf that I never would have found without his help!
Meanwhile, as I was getting my goods, and paying for them at the self-checkout, three different store employees greeted me, asking me how I was, and they seemed to genuinely care! I’ve been in similar stores where I couldn’t find a clerk when I needed one!
This is a practical example of what I am calling Loving Leadership – leadership that starts with love from people who love what they do!
God created man after His desire for companionship. God wanted someone other than His three personalities to experience the love that they share. Man hasn’t behaved very well, but God has continued to bestow His love on us, to the extent that He sent Jesus Christ to live as a man, to live as we were supposed to live. The perfect life of Jesus Christ made Him the perfect sacrificial lamb, and He died the death that each of us should have died. He died for our sins! Out of love!
Jesus has told us that the most important thing we can do is to love God with our whole beings, and to love our fellow humans as ourselves. He told us if we love one another that all men will know that we are His disciples. John 13:34-35
He told us in Matt 28:19 that we are to make disciples (followers of Jesus.)
What if our leadership of others began with showing them love? Would they be more interested in becoming our followers? What if they saw that we not only showed that we cared about them, but that we also enjoyed doing it? Leading by love, and loving doing it! What a concept!
Isn’t this what Jesus did? He loved people, he extended that love to them, and loved sharing with them! No wonder they followed Him! No wonder He was the greatest leader the world has ever known!
Can we do that? Of course, we can! I just saw it demonstrated today! If store employees can carry this out, whether they know Jesus or not, can’t we, who are empowered by the Holy Spirit, perform our daily tasks with a passion for serving God, and loving those around us, as we do it?
What if we all tried it this week! Does this give you a new perspective on our tagline, below? It does me!
Heb 10:24-25 …let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, …assembling together, …encouraging one another;…