“From the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another.”
John 1:16 (NIV)
“Because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.”
Hebrews 2:18 (NIV)
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might become rich.”
2 Corinthians 8:9
“Blessed be the God and Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God….Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.”
2 Corinthians 3-6
Leadership as we know is the capacity to influence a people towards a destination or experience. It is often said that everything remains in a state of rest until an external force is applied to it. For most people; their condition wouldn’t change until someone or some people come to their aid. Changes, transformation or progress are usually consequences of help or push or challenge or threat that comes to a person or people from outside.
Therefore, a person may never experience or know a thing or place until someone or some people who know the thing or place guides towards it. In short, we are who we are today because someone has poured himself or herself into us or some people have poured themselves into us.
According to the book of Genesis 1:26, we know about God’s intention to make man a leader over the earth. In Genesis 2:7, we see how God made the leader – man. After God had formed a body of man, there was structure, but the man was not functioning. What then did He do? He decided to pour Himself into the hitherto dysfunctional man and the man became a functional structure or system. That is it.
There would be dysfunctional structures or systems or entities without a leader. The work of a leader is indeed that of provoking change, transforming systems and structures and creating new experiences. To do that effectively, every leader must be willing to pour out of himself or herself when needed. The question is “wat does it mean to pour out oneself?” It means to release or share part of one’s resource or resourcefulness, grace, understanding, virtue or skill or spiritual energy with others. While that is what is expected of leaders; effective leaders are usually clear about the truth that a man can only give what he has; for you to give out, you must have received first.
If any leader continues to pour out without spending time, money and effort to receive, to replenish, such leader will go bankrupt in leadership, virtue, valor, or value. The key to keep giving is to keep receiving. Your cup must continually be full of strength, wisdom, honour, riches, glory, power and blessing; and from your fullness as a leader, your people draw and enjoy. That is your work and life as a leader and your effectiveness in leadership is to the degree of your balance or receiving and giving!
