Today's message on Leaderview is a follow up to what we examined last week. In case you haven't come across the message, last week we examined a question which was: Whose Leadership Model Do You Follow? We said in that message that anyone you follow and identify with as a leader, the results of that person you would command. Jesus said to His disciples, "Most assuredly I say to you, the works that I do you will do and greater works than this because I go to the Father." We also did mention that whosoever you referenced as a leader shows the people the paths and the direction you follow in your leadership.

 

Now, it is possible for someone to have listened to that message and he or she is still wondering: What are these models, I don't even know any Biblical leadership model that are available. So in today's message, we will be examining some leadership types in the Bible, most especially, the ones that Jesus Himself talked about and we would see a couple of things that we can glean from them.

 

Listen to Podcast: UNDERSTANDING BIBLICAL LEADERSHIP TYPES

 

Leadership Types

1. The "lording" Leadership Type

⁴¹ Hearing this, the [other] ten became indignant with James and John. ⁴² Calling them to Himself, Jesus said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them; and their powerful men exercise authority over them [tyrannizing them]. ⁴³ But this is not how it is among you; instead, whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, ⁴⁴ and whoever wishes to be first and most important among you must be slave of all. ⁴⁵ For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”

Mark 10:41-45

 

The lording leadership type is a tyrannical model of leadership. Merriam-Webster dictionary defines "tyranny" as: a cruel and unfair treatment by people with power over others. Usually, leadership positions does is that they give you the opportunity to lead a group of people and that position vests upon you some level of power as well. However, that power should never be the reason why you maltreat the people you are leading or treat them with contempt. But in a lording leadership type, that is exactly what takes place and Jesus said to His disciples that this type of leadership is not a good one.

 

King Saul actually exhibited this kind of leadership style. In 1 Samuel 8:17-18, God described a kind of leader that Saul would be to the children of Israel. The Bible says: "He will take a tenth of your sheep. And you will be his servants. ¹⁸ And you will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, and the Lord will not hear you in that day." The children of Israel were actually supposed to be King Saul's follower had if the right environment of leadership/followership were created. But it says instead of them following, they would end up becoming his servants and then he would lord the position over them.

 

Although, while it may appear to have some benefits to those who exercise lordship over the people they were meant to be leading, the long run disadvantage far outweighs the temporary benefits that any leader may want to take out of this leadership type. Now, Jesus sighted Himself as an example to His Disciples. Even though He is the Lord and Master of all, He had this to say in verse 45: "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many."

 

 

2. The Leadership By Example Type

¹² So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? ¹³ You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. ¹⁴ If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. ¹⁵ For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. ¹⁶ Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. ¹⁷ If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

John 13:12-15

 

I don't know any other leadership model better than Leading by Example. As a matter of fact, Jesus Himself gave 100 percent credence to this type of model when He said in verse 15: "For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you." That statement alone is testament to the fact that Jesus led by example, and He also prescribed that for us. The question to you today is this: How are you leading your followers? Is it by example or is it by "mere talk and no example."

 

Now, based on my own experience, there are four categories of leaders. The first category are leaders who talk less and do much. Such leaders are not the talking type, but you can sure see their effectiveness in office. Sometimes we often refer to such leaders as "silent achievers."

 

The second category are those leaders that talk much and do much. Such leaders, their words are always backed up by their actions. When they say they will do something, they won't stop until they have achieved that which they said they will do. An example is President Donald Trump. He said while he was campaigning to become American President at the time that he will move The United States Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and officially recognize Jerusalem as the official capital of Israel, if he wins the elections.

 

Now if you know the story, Jerusalem has always been a contentious matter between Israel and Palestinian, and many American presidents before Trump usually avoid to meddle with the matter. What many American presidents before Trump did was to sit on the fence as regarding the matter and tries to broker peace between Israel and Palestine anytime there is war. But Trump Promised Israel he was going to recognize Jerusalem as their capital and he has since fulfilled that already. Trump is a contemporary example of a leader who talks much and also do much.

 

The third category of leaders are those who talk much and do less. Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari is rightly situated in this category. During his campaign pre 2015 elections, many Nigerians had high hope that he was going to do so much based on his campaign promises. However, most of the things he said he will do are still largely undone till now.

 

The fourth category of leaders are those who talk more, do more and also lead by example. Now, Jesus is in this category. He taught the people a great deal, opening their eyes and understanding to the kingdom of God, did all manner of miracles among the people, and also led by example. This is why Jesus is the best model of leadership everyone should follow. No wonder apostle Paul admonished Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:12, it says: "Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity." In other words, he told Timothy to lead by example, and nothing more.

 

I believe you have been able to pick a couple of lessons from today's Leaderview. In summary, don't be a lord leader, be a leader that leads and shows example to the followers. In doing this, you would be able to lead your people effectively. Thank you for the gift of your time, until next week when we shall meet again by God's grace, stay blessed and God bless you.

Thanks for the gift of your time, I am Obayomi Abiola Benjamin!

Feel free to share your thoughts or testimony in the comment box below. I promise to respond to them as soon as possible!