²¹ When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened ²² and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” (Luke 3:21-22, NIV)

Q: How many great leaders would you describe as "humble"?

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Humility is not generally the first leadership quality that comes to mind.  Great leaders tend to be very charismatic, dynamic, even forceful in leading people toward his/her vision.  Humility is not something we normally consider.  Yet, humility is an essential quality of passionate leadership.

OK - so what is humility, you ask?

Humility before God acknowledges His supremacy and authority over my life and my acceptance of His role for me.  The first key in humility is acknowledging that "God is God and I am not God."  When you get these two things confused, that is what the Bible calls sin.  You must acknowledge God as the Almighty who created all things - therefore, you are accountable to Him first and foremost.  The second key in humility is acceptance of God's role for me at any given point in my life.  Sometimes I may be a leader and other times a follower.  One who is a follower but does not accept that role is not humble - no matter how lowly one's role or circumstances may be.  One who is a forceful, dynamic leader may still be humble - if he accepts that role in God's plan for his life.

Moses was such a leader.  He was dynamic and forceful - even fiery at times to his discredit.  But the Bible describes Moses as "a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth" (Numbers 12:3, NIV).  He had to be forceful and dynamic to lead millions of Israelites through their desert trek to the Promised Land.  But Moses kept God first in his life and accepted his role as their leader.

Humility as a leader as requires empathy with the people you are leading.

Q: Is it important for a leader to relate to the people he or she leads? 

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Q: Can you effectively lead a group people that you do not know personally? 

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I have experienced leaders that neither knew nor understood their people in various business and church situations.  I can tell you it is alarming to the people in such a group or organization and often disastrous results follow the inevitable poor leadership. 

When a leader is distant from the group, and possibly arrogant as well, the group will never reach its potential.  People need leaders who understand them, are aware of their needs and desires, and have empathy that allows them to lead them in the way that they should go.

Jesus is such a leader.  He understands us because He made us (John 1:3; Colossians 1:16).  He is certainly aware of our needs and desires because, as God, He knows everything (1 John 3:20).  And Jesus completely empathized with the human beings He created.

The Scripture verse from Luke chapter 3 shows a revealing picture of humility.  Jesus got baptized.  What is so humble about that?  Well, consider the One who is getting baptized.  Jesus is:

• "King of kings and LORD of Lords" (Revelation 19:16)
• "Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End" (Revelation 22:12, NIV)
• God (John 1:1) who created all things (John 1:3) and then became Human (John 1:14).

The One who sits on the throne in Heaven is the same One who entered creation and walked on this Earth as a man.  He stepped out of Heaven and into the baptismal waters that sinful humans enter.

Jesus did not NEED to get baptized for He is without sin (2 Corinthians 5:21).  But He wanted to identify and empathize with the people He came to save.  In so doing, He displayed this remarkable attribute of humility.

Do you know the people that you lead - do you really know their desires and needs?  Are you willing to walk with them through the peaks and valleys they endure?  If not, maybe you need to step off your throne...

Bottom line: A passionate leader demonstrates humility that enables you to understand and empathize with the people you lead.

© Copyright 2011, Randy Lariscy.