The Test of True Character

Throughout my time in ministry I have had the opportunity to work under some incredible leaders. I've learned a lot through that process. I've learned what to do,  what not to do, and that in life there's no such thing as a perfect leader. We are all human and in desperate need of God's grace.​

That being said, here’s a few keys I've learned along the way.

You can use theses keys to measure if your heart is growing in love in your leadership. Every single one of us struggles with these things in one form or another. Take this little heart check as an inventory and ask God to help you grow in the areas you are weak.

​​The test of true character for any leader is how they treat those who can give them no influence, no accolades, and no name. How they treat those “beneath” them reveals their truest character. 

• ACCESS: Are you accessible to those who need you? If you have an assistant, do you make them do the work God wants YOU to do? Are you consistently dreaming about how to get access towards your next promotion (in any career, ministry included)? It’s easy to make time for those who can give you “access” but what about those who can’t? What about those who have none?

• AUDIENCE: Do you want to HEAR or want an audience to be HEARD? Listening is an act of love. Talking is an act of power.

• POWER: Are you looking to gain power or give it away? Are you more focused on empowering others? Are you focused on giving others the title, the opportunity, and the chance to spread their wings? Or are you looking for that yourself?

• INFLUENCE: Do you love to sit around tables of influence? Or sit around tables with those who have none? Do you want more influence? Or to give more away?

• TIME: Time is a gift everyone seems to be running out of. How we spend the majority of our time reveals our priorities which reveals our heart. Do you make time for those who can give you no raise in your salary, no promotion for your career, no recognition or accolades? Do you make time for the one who is weak, hurting, and lonely? Do you make time for the “nobody” who is essentially THE MOST IMPORTANT person in the kingdom of God? 

May we not quickly forget, the words of Jesus in Matthew 20:16, So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.