The Most Important Leadership Qualification Is Character
Somewhere along the way American culture decided that character (moral excellence) is no longer necessary for leadership. As long as the coach can lead us to a winning season, who cares what goes on in his personal life. As long profits are up, who care's about the CEO's morality. As long as the economy is good, who care's if our president has bad character. Case in point, Bill Clinton committed adultery and lied under oath while serving as the President of the United States, but many in our country didn't seem to care. Why? The economy was doing well. Somewhere along the way our culture decided that competence mattered, and character for the most part was irrelevant to leadership.
But the Bible teaches us something different. It teaches that of all the qualities that make for a good leader, character is the most important. In 1 Timothy 3:1-13, the Bible lists 15 qualifications that someone must possess before they are allowed to be a church leader. Of the 15, only two have to do with skill or competencies -- the ability to teach, and the ability to manage your family well. The other 13 have to do with character, or virtue, or moral excellence. In other words, character is the most important leadership qualification.
At this point the tendency is to say that sure, character is important for clergy, but it's not necessary in business, sports, education, politics, etc. But that's where our culture is dangerously wrong. Take Bill Clinton, for example. If the man can't keep his marriage vows, they we are foolish to assume he will be loyal to his country. If his own wife can't trust him, then we are foolish to trust him.
In last Sunday's sermon I gave four reasons why character is essential for leadership in any arena. You can listen to them in full HERE. You can also read the sermon manuscript HERE.
But the Bible teaches us something different. It teaches that of all the qualities that make for a good leader, character is the most important. In 1 Timothy 3:1-13, the Bible lists 15 qualifications that someone must possess before they are allowed to be a church leader. Of the 15, only two have to do with skill or competencies -- the ability to teach, and the ability to manage your family well. The other 13 have to do with character, or virtue, or moral excellence. In other words, character is the most important leadership qualification.
At this point the tendency is to say that sure, character is important for clergy, but it's not necessary in business, sports, education, politics, etc. But that's where our culture is dangerously wrong. Take Bill Clinton, for example. If the man can't keep his marriage vows, they we are foolish to assume he will be loyal to his country. If his own wife can't trust him, then we are foolish to trust him.
In last Sunday's sermon I gave four reasons why character is essential for leadership in any arena. You can listen to them in full HERE. You can also read the sermon manuscript HERE.
- Leadership is about God's agenda, not just any agenda.
- Leadership is about the journey, not just the destination.
- Leadership is about exemplification, not just delegation.
- Leadership opens the door to temptations that only mature character can resist.
