Personal Disciplines
Fred Smith Sr.
Leaders need to submit themselves to a stricter discipline than is expected of others. Those who are first in place must be first in merit.
Leadership, as we have seen, is both something you are and something you do. But effective leadership starts with character. When leaders fail, more often it is a result of a character flaw than lack of competence.
The aim of any Christian is to mature, to conform more and more to the image of Christ. This character development is especially important for leaders. And it's a process, not a plateau where we sit down to rest. Leaders who last don't stop growing; they continue to stretch themselves.
How do we discuss such an intangible personal quality? It's not impossible.
Growth must be seen as a whole. I wonder sometimes what we would look like if our mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects were as visible as our physical bodies. I suspect many of us would be distorted, misshapen, even grotesque. Some people develop their minds to the neglect of their social and emotional health. Others spend so much time studying the Bible that the rest of their lives are stunted.
Maturity is balanced growth. It's obviously difficult to measure, but here are several disciplines necessary for healthy growth. They can serve as a checklist to make sure we're maturing in all areas of life.
The Discipline of Freedom
Some pastors I know feel trapped—I'm called by God to do this, but I don't like certain aspects of the job, and I don't feel free to change them. This depresses them almost monthly.
They feel like slaves to the church, and slaves have very few options. They have emotional options, of course—they can be dedicated, enthusiastic, willing to use their best talents, or they can drag their feet and be insolent ...
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