Refined Leaders Lead by Example

We can only live the right stuff if we allow the refining fire of grace transform us.
It is then that we can expect that the silver, gold and precious gems of our
life are an encouragement and an example to all who see and follow us.

Refined leaders lead by example. Leaders expect followers to exhibit the gold, silver and precious gems of the kingdom, yet the leader themselves often do not. I’ve often seen and heard leaders in ministry and business give great messages and issue good edicts while they choose a separate pathway. They speak the right stuff but don’t live the right stuff.

Paul directed Timothy, the leader of the church in Ephesus, to ‘watch your life and doctrine closely’ (1 Tim. 4:16). A leader may preach the kingdom of God, but live the kingdom of man. His or her followers look for the fruit of a kingdom lifestyle; the gold, silver and precious gems of good works prepared before the foundation of the earth (Eph. 2:10; 1 Cor. 3:12-15), but don’t see it exemplified by the leader.

We must lead by example, willing to be refined to the point our spirit-man dominates our life. For every believer in Jesus Christ, whether a leader or not, the spirit-man is completely refined, regenerated, and made righteous fulfilling the scripture that says Jesus took our sin so that we become the righteousness of God (2 Cor. 5:21). We then become transformed into that same image of righteousness as we transform our thinking and renew our minds. Our hearts (where we make decisions) then lead us to become exemplary leaders.

From the heart will flow the righteousness of God for the people we lead and the culture we influence. We can only live the right stuff if we allow the refining fire of grace transform us. It is then that we can expect that the silver, gold and precious gems of our life are an encouragement and an example to all who see and follow us.