Trust Me… (5 Christ-honoring Distinctives)

How much you trust someone shows the depth of your relationship. Would you trust a stranger with your credit card? Surely not. Would you trust your teenage kids to stay at home for a weekend while you are on vacation? Maybe. Can you trust God to fulfill his promises? Absolutely. In many cases, trust is based on a track record.

Trust in the leadership is essential to the fulfillment of the vision. Followers will not commit to anyone who fails to walk in notable integrity. In The Leadership Challenge, James Kouzes and Barry Posner propose that a leader with integrity is one who strives to do what he says he will do.  Without assurance that the leader is trustworthy, the best response that one could hope for is half-hearted. This reservation will prevent followers from completely buying into the vision and the necessary effort to meet specified goals.

In the Bible, Joshua was a man who lived in such a way that others trusted him. As he served the Lord, he made decisions that were profound but not always popular. He saw circumstances through God’s eyes and walked in faith. People not only respected Joshua; they were willing to place their lives on the line. Joshua proved himself under the mentorship of Moses. When Moses died, the people trusted Joshua to follow the God’s vision and plan.

If the vision is not dependent on the collaboration of others, then the vision cannot be from God. Therefore, it is necessary to cast the vision in such a way that stirs others to want to join the team. People have a deep desire to be a part of something that will make a difference. When a leader presents a vision that meets this need, people will respond if they trust that the leader has what it takes to fulfill that vision. A follower who fully embraces the vision is a powerful resource and a gift from God.

When people trust their leaders, an even greater effect occurs than accomplishing goals. People are encouraged in their serving. Trust creates an environment that lead people to wanting to be a part of a team. What athlete would hesitate to play on a team with a trustworthy coach?  Coaches with integrity build great teams because the players want to be lead by a person who can be trusted.

My grandfather was a man of great integrity. He never led a large group or organization. Yet, whatever he was doing, other people wanted to be a part of it. Whenever people had tough decisions to make, they would turn to my grandfather for wisdom. People trusted him because he walked with Christ, loved people, and was a man of his word. His honesty and humility was magnetic. Everyone wanted to be around him.

Questions for Consideration:
Who is a person in your life that exemplifies integrity?
What does it take for you to trust someone?
What role does trust play in your current ministry leadership?

In the previous blog (http://t.co/89lWDmTco4), I defined the kind of leadership that God honors. A leader is someone who can articulate a God-given vision for ministering to people. By being trustworthy, a leader encourages others to embrace the vision. Through inspiration, a leader empowers followers to use God-given spiritual gifts to fulfill the vision. Humility allows the leader to guide others through a strategic progression of goals. A genuine love for others causes a leader to replicate leadership through intentional mentoring relationships. These aspects of integrity and their corresponding actions are both the litmus test and the definition of leadership.

Yesterday, I posted on the issue of vision in leadership. You can check it out here: http://wp.me/p1BrJl-h7

Tomorrow, I will show you what inspires others to follow you. If you subscribe to this blog in the upper right sidebar, you can have these post delivered to you automatically.
As always, your thoughts are welcome in the “Comments” section below.