Learning to Lead Through Character Development

God's way of life requires continual growth and perpetual preparation.

A new old religion is leavening our American society. Born in the Garden of EdenThe land in which the Lord planted a garden for Adam to live in (Genesis 2:15). It was located at the branching of 4 rivers: the Euphrates, the Hiddekel (the Tigris), the Pishon, and the Gihon (Genesis 2:8-14). It was also the location of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, and the tree of life (Genesis 2:16)., the modern form is nourished by those who think themselves to be enlightened, independent thinkers. The religion is tolerance; its devout bow down to the god of choice.

Seduced by Satan and their own intellects, these "rational" thinkers cannot understand they are unleashing a great tragedy. In simple terms, this tragedy is the return of slavery. Not the slavery of iron chains and manacles that stains our history, but the slavery of a more evil and cruel taskmaster: the greedy, unquenchable thirst of the human appetite.

When a person chooses to worship the god of choice, the only arbiter of right and wrong is the almighty self. A self left to its own devices will become enslaved by its appetites (Romans 6:16-23 [16] Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
[17] But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
[18] Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
[19] I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
[20] For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.
[21] What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
[22] But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
[23] For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

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A religion that removes absolutes and leaves God out of the picture requires its converts to construct their own definitions of right and wrong. This was the ultimate "prize" that seduced Eve. This insidious form of slavery deceives the captives into thinking they are free; like an alcoholic who believes he has no drinking problem, but says, "I need a drink."

Slaves who are imprisoned and forced to serve their master with rigor have no need of self-discipline. They are regulated with the lash. This is the opposite of the agreement God the Father would have with all His children: that they would be like Him-from the inside out (Hebrews 8:8-13 [8] For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
[9] Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
[10] For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
[11] And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
[12] For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
[13] In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.

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To have a heart like God's requires His character. To have godly, righteous character requires self-discipline. To be exercised, self-discipline must have mountains to climb, oceans to cross and targets to hit. What should we aim for?

The Most Demanding Performance Metric

There are many important lessons to be learned from the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:15-30 [15] And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
[16] Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
[17] And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
[18] But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.
[19] After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
[20] And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
[21] His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
[22] He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
[23] His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
[24] Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
[25] And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
[26] His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
[27] Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
[28] Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
[29] For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
[30] And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

See All...). God gives of His endowments to His servants. He divides His gifts judiciously not burdening any with more than can be handled and not expecting any more or any less than each person can give.

He measures outcomes not in terms of gross return, but in percentage gained. The servant with five talents and the servant with two talents each generated 100 percent return on investment and each heard, "Well done, you good and faithful servant." The servant who played it safe was shocked and horrified to learn that he was unprofitable and unusable; a castoff.

Therefore we see that we are judged, not by what another has been given or does, but by a much more demanding performance metric: our own potential.

What about you? What about me? Are we reaching our full potential in this life? Are we constantly moving, growing, learning and doing? The famous homespun humorist Will Rogers said, "Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there."

The firstfruits of God—the brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ—have a destiny of leadership, fame, fortune and power that eclipses the wildest imagination. It's not the leadership of the selfish, but the leadership of the servant. True, godly leadership—in any context—is helping other people reach their full potential. The definition works in a home, church, school or business. It is the antithesis of Satan's perverted  raison d'être .

However, before we can lead others, we should be seeking God's help to lead ourselves. It is common sense to know that one of the most powerful leadership tools is  personal example.

What others do especially influences our precious teens and young adults who are particularly vulnerable during the natural cycle of spreading their wings. For those seeking life's treasures and mysteries, newfound freedom to choose makes the religion of tolerance gleam like the forbidden fruit in Eve's eye.

Tragically, many, if not most, of the priests for the god of choice preach from pulpits of higher education where they find an abundance of willing converts.

It doesn't help that the media machine willingly evangelizes this pseudo-religion by flaunting the escapades and excesses of the pop-culture icons who drink, snort and exchange partners from resort to resort around the globe. The powerful message is heard and internalized by impressionable youth who learn that fun is the only answer, and what matters most is how you look, not what you do.

It is the personality ethic, outside-in, plastic surgery for plastic people who are soul-sick and empty.

The relentless pursuit of pleasure flies in the face of how blind, deaf, super-overcomer Helen Keller saw life: "Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired, and success achieved."

What Happened to Building Character?

What happened to inner beauty? What happened to morals, personal principles, rules—"lines I won't let myself cross"? What happened to restraint and self-discipline—telling myself no to something now (even something that might be good) for the sake of something better later?

The apostle Paul understood the value of the struggle. In 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 [24] Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
[25] And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
[26] I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
[27] But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

See All..., Paul speaks of temperance, discipline, fighting, enslaving his body as though subduing and vanquishing an enemy. In Greek, "keep under my body" (KJV) literally means "I give myself a black eye."

Even today we understand and value the discipline required to excel in sports. Two quotes from coaching greats from a bygone, seemingly irretrievable, era nicely paint the contrast with where we have fallen today:

"Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are"—Coach John Wooden.

"The dictionary is the only place where  success  comes before  work.  The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand and the determination that, whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand"—Coach Vince Lombardi.

But lives are artificially compartmentalized today and character or self-discipline in one area of life is no guarantee of finding it elsewhere.

"Bold and Arduous Project"

There was a time when building character was chic. A famous American wrote about his quest to become morally pure. See if you can guess who it is from these autobiographical excerpts:

"It was about this time that I conceived the bold and arduous project of arriving at moral perfection. I wished to live without committing any fault at any time . . . As I knew, or thought I knew, what was right and wrong, I did not see why I might not always do the one and avoid the other."

The young man then listed 13 virtues he would like to incorporate into his life. He developed a disciplined plan to measure his daily behavior against his ideals in a log book. After working on himself he said, "I was surprised to find myself so much fuller of faults than I had imagined, but I had the satisfaction of seeing them diminish."

This popular and enormously influential American sought God's help to overcome. He wrote the following in his log book: "O Powerful Goodness! Bountiful Father! Merciful Guide! Increase in me that wisdom which discovers my truest interest; strengthen my resolutions to perform what that wisdom dictates."

Do you know who it is? Is it Colin Farrill, Brad Pitt, Kobe Bryant or Paris Hilton? Not quite. It was the great founding father, Benjamin Franklin. Unfortunately morally bankrupt "stars" and their handlers are today ruining the nation Ben Franklin helped birth.

What if all people today simply tried to live Ben Franklin's virtues? His virtues square with godly principles. See the sidebar for the list from his autobiography with a little jab at our modern society for contrast.

Ben Franklin's list of virtues is not the be-all and end-all. The sharp, two-edged sword of God's Word is our complete guide. Are you and I even working as hard as old Ben Franklin to develop our character? Imbued with the power of God's Holy Spirit, shouldn't our strivings and successes far eclipse those of mere mortals?

Years of Preparation

English orator H.P. Liddon said, "What we do upon some great occasion will probably depend on what we already are; and what we are will be the result of previous years of self-discipline." Righteous godly character is not developed with the flip of a switch or instantly manufactured in the crucible of some cataclysmic convulsion. The five unprepared virgins could not whip up the Holy Spirit in a moment (Matthew 25:1-13 [1] Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
[2] And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
[3] They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
[4] But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
[5] While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
[6] And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
[7] Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
[8] And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
[9] But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
[10] And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
[11] Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
[12] But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
[13] Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

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It is said that nothing so concentrates the mind as the knowledge that one has but one month to live. How long do you suppose we have? Look around the world and do the math. The 6,000-year workweek allotted to Satan and man is about to run out. At the very least we know it is the preparation day—the day before the millennial Sabbath.

We must with great zeal and fervor perpetually prepare to lead by building holy, righteous, godly character. We must continually discover, develop and, as we have opportunity, deploy our God-given spiritual gifts. If we are called to fully use our gifts and lead now, we will be ready. If we are not in this life called upon, we will still be ready.

Either way,  when  we are called upon in the next life, we will have prepared to lead effectively because we have struggled, with God's help, to build character.  UN