“The good shepherd sacrifices his lifefor the sheep... The hired hand runs away because he’s working only for themoney and doesn’t really care about the sheep.” John 10:11, 13(NLT)
In any leadership position, your goal is to truly care about the people you lead. Actually, this is the key to being the most effective leader.
In John 10:11–15, Jesus gives us a beautiful picture of this caring leader—a good shepherd who cares for his sheep so much that he’s willing to risk his life to protect them. As a leader, you have people who rely on you, just as sheep rely on the shepherd to lead and protect them.
But if the shepherd has the attitude of a hired hand, he doesn’t really care if the sheep live or die. At the first sign of trouble, he heads for the hills.
When things get rough, it’s so easy to quit. You might be wondering if it’s really worth continuing to lead at work or in ministry. You might not feel appreciated. It may look so much easier to just move on and find a less demanding position. But trouble is the true test of leadership. Your team needs you to stick up for them and be there for them when things aren’t going well.
I’m not saying you need to stay in every bad situation. Pray and ask Holy Spirit to guide you, but realize that leadership isn’t always going to be easy.
The greatest place you can get to in life is one where it is no longer all about you. When you are motivated by love—not the need for comfort or to be noticed—you will do the greatest things for God and build the most amazing relationships.
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