How Do You Spell Leadership? #9

Interested in the Future.

We need more dreamers among our elders today. Yet, many people don't like that. Remember what Joseph's brothers said about him? "Behold that dreamer cometh" (Genesis 37:19). Bottom line -- leaders must have vision because without it we go nowhere.

Do you remember the story about the little boy who wrote an essay for his teacher? The essay was to be about what the boy wanted to be in 20 years. The little boy wrote that he wanted among other things a 2000 acre ranch and a 4000 square foot house. When he got the paper back from the teacher, he had been given an "F". The teacher said the little boy's essay was unattainable because he was so poor and he came from a low income family. However, the teacher did tell the young man that he could take the paper home and rewrite it and she would change the grade. When the boy took the paper back to the teacher, it had not been edited at all. He looked the teacher in the eye and said, "You keep the "F" and I'll keep my dreams." As the story goes, the little boy surpassed his dreams and the aging teacher took her class to his huge ranch every year for a field trip so they could see how important their dreams were.

Leaders need to set goals for the future. We also need to set objectives to reach those goals. When someone climbs stairs, they do it one step at a time. No one goes from the bottom of the stairs to the top in one step. Furthermore, God's leaders need to always look to the future. They need to be forward looking. Technology is also an important aspect of this vision. We need to take full advantage of the blessings that are available to us today and tomorrow.

Be result oriented! Sometimes it is not a question of what works, but what works best. The leader must identify what needs to be accomplished. Then he must forget what doesn't work or is just mediocre, and keep what works best to glorify God and save the souls of the lost.