Leadership as seen through the eyes of a five year old

A few moments ago, our son ran into our bedroom, jumped up onto our bed, and asked me what I was reading.

"A book on leadership that will help Daddy be a better leader, so I can be a better pastor," I replied. "Do you know what a leader is?"

"Sure," he answered, "A leader is not selfish."

Astonished, and impressed, I continued, "What else?"

"A leader has a book."

"That's right! Leaders read books! What else?"

"A leader is an animal."

"An animal...?...!...?"

"Yes, a leader is a goat!"

"A goat...?...!...?"

"Yes, a goat that eats lots of grass!"

Somehow, I think that's the way most leaders are. We may understand some things about leadership, but no matter how much we learn, there always seem to be things we do not grasp.

Here's the good news: No matter how much we still need to know, Jesus is willing to coach us. He is the greatest leader who has ever lived. No one else has ever influenced over one billion leaders and followers on a daily basis two thousand years after his death. No other leader, I mean absolutely no other leader can answer all our questions on the subject.

The Holy Spirit gave us this precious promise through the apostle James in his epistle,

"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault..." (James 1:5)

When it comes to leadership, the most important thing is not what you know, but who you know!