by R. Douglas Williams

Created on: December 20, 2008

The thing that made Jesus the greatest leader who ever lived was his love for people. This love gave him the ability to relate to those who attached themselves to him. Having a real love for humanity enabled him to communicate to the deepest need of every person - the need to be accepted.

Having formally shrugged off an established place of leadership within the government and culture of his day, he lead in an organic sense through relationship-building. For example, he gathered twelve men from various walks of life and asked them to basically live with him as he conducted his ministry. He did not ask these men to sit in a place of authority with him as he ruled over people. Instead, he chose them so he could build a relationship with them.

When told once that his family was waiting outside for him as he had been speaking, strangely he asked, "Who are my mother and brothers?" Quickly, he added that everyone within earshot, who loved God and listened to his message were his mother and brothers - his family. While it might be argued that Jesus compromised his affections for his biological family, his point was that he loved everyone and considered more than those who could fit in one house his family.

People of every time have found themselves under the authority of a leader in some regard. What people have not often seen is a leader of Jesus' quality. The sort of individual who called them to a relationship before giving a deadline, or a list of tasks, or an ultimatum. In the competitive arena of the marketplace, in the place of government, in service-oriented careers, the tendency leans more toward a conspicuous message that all work is done to make the leader look good.

The unfortunate thing about Jesus' way of leading is many people would not consider it leading per se. Maybe Jesus would not have been chosen to be an accountant manager or a vice president of sales or a senator. His efforts to relate to people and his lack of monetary ambition would have been red-flagged by upper management.

It's just as well since Jesus was his own kind of leader. Decidely independent of a western philosophy of business. He would have been glad to be "looked over" for a shark-type position.

If you wish to be a leader of people, you will make a significant leap in this direction if you decide to love people sincerely. Cultivating your affections for humankind will propel you in Jesus' direction. Without realizing it, people will attach themselves to you because of the relationship you have built with them.

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