How a Leader Loves

"And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’ ” And he said to him, “Teacher, yall these I have kept from my youth.” And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” Mark 10:17-21

Jesus models for us how leaders love. It's not formulaic because a leader who exercises these things will love far more and better than one who tries to simply apply a paradigm or a model. We don't love by applying a principle or a good idea. This simple account demonstrates how we can stay focused on the big picture, and keep a right perspective about loving those we presume to lead.

"And Jesus, looking at him..." In the inductive study The Person of Jesus by Paul Miller (seejesus.net), looking is a major component of learning to love like Jesus. In our busy world, so many things compete for our time and attention. In the midst of all the competition from cell phones, tablet devices, and social networking, the ability to look is a lost art. After challenging the young man's regard, Jesus enters his world and begins to lead as the young needs to be led.

"...loved him..." After looking at him, Jesus loves him. We can't love those we lead if we don't first look at them....and I mean really look. Think of a leadership context right now (at work, in the home, etc.) and imagine a person that turns to you for leadership. Look at that person. What are their concerns? What makes them joyful? What are their hopes, their heartbreaks right now? Before we try to lead them, look at them and love them.

"...and he said to him..." Jesus speaks directly into the rich young man's life context. He has looked at him and grasped the true need which the young man brought to Jesus' feet. In deeply looking, his love for the man and his condition has taken hold. From that love comes leadership born out of concern for the man and the mission. He's offered what the young man truly needs and speaks directly to that need. That is an expression of faithful leadership.

What happens when we don't look, love, then speak? Many times we speak out of our own needs rather into the needs of others or the organization. When someone comes seeking leadership, we offer a quick word of worldly wisdom or a suggested quick fix in order to get back to what we think is the truly imporant leadership tasks. In those moments, we've forsaken the faithful leadership we owe to others in our care.

Every leadership context involves people, and we do well to regard them as Jesus regards them in moving toward our goals and objectives.

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