Leading What We Have 

The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.  Philippians 4:9 

When I was in business, the only people who could clean toilets and scrub floors were the ones I had!  When we started our largest account, I planned on 10 employees, but was only able to hire 6.  Fortunately, that was adequate for the account, but it didn’t always work out that way.  Many times, we did what we had to do, with the employees we had. 

Many times, I was the only employee available for the present task, particularly, when it came to leadership.  Looking back, I probably could have been more diligent in stopping, turning the situation over to God, and asking Him for His direction. 

Early on, I often looked at Paul’s admonition in Philippians 4:9, to follow him.  I call that a ‘mirror verse.’  I looked at what he was telling his people, and said, “Would I hire me?” 

Would I hire a person who performed in the workplace like I did?  Who treated the customers and the other employees like I did?  That’s what I was asking them to do, if I wanted them to do what they had learned and received and heard and seen in me.  It became an accountability verse for me, to perform in a proper manner. 

It’s so important, as we look at Leading What We Have, to see that it starts with us.  What we really have is our self.  What does that look like?   As we expand our outlook, we realize the next thing in our sphere is our family.  What does family leadership look like? 

The Apostle Paul, in his epistle to the Ephesians, lays out a plan in the second half of the letter which can be read as a list of priorities.  He, first, talks about our relationship with God, in chapters 4 & 5, then relationships with spouses, children, and workers.  Then, he tells us to put on the whole armor of God, which is about putting on Christ. 

As we look at Leading What We Have, it starts with leading ourselves, then our families, then those around us. 

Being a Greatest Leader has nothing to do with us, it’s all about Him, so it starts with our salvation.  Until we write our own name in John 3:16, we can forget about being anything of value in this life, and certainly not the next! 

Salvation in Jesus Christ is the first step! 

Then comes our submission to the Holy Spirit, to live the life of Christ through us.  Ephesians 5:1-2 tells us, Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children;  and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.   

These are the things those around us are to see, so they can practice these things. 

Then, our leadership will be pleasing to God, and the God of peace will be with you.