Biblical Leadership

Ref 1: What is a Leader according to the Bible.
Ref 2: How you can find the Leader in You.
Ref 3: Leading by First Listening.
Ref 4: Understanding the Leadership Structure.
Ref 5: Gaining Respect from Your Employees.
Ref 6: Putting Action into Godly Action.
Ref 7: Accepting and Adjusting your Outcome.
Ref 8: Going Forward through Unpopular Circumstances.
Ref 9: When you Know you’ve Achieved your Goal.
Ref 10: Delivering/Promoting Yourself and Your Product to your Customer or Boss.

Ref 1: What is a Leader according to the Bible.

Leviticus 4
22 “‘When a leader sins unintentionally and does what is forbidden in any of the commands of the LORD his God, when he realizes his guilt 23 and the sin he has committed becomes known, he must bring as his offering a male goat without defect.

In other words:  A leader apologizes when he has made a mistake. If he doesn’t, he is either ignorant or self-righteous and neither makes for a good leader.

Numbers 1
44 These were the men counted by Moses and Aaron and the twelve leaders of Israel, each one representing his family.
A leader represents his family; his subordinates.

Exodus 18
24 Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. 25 He chose capable men from all Israel and made them leaders of the people, officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. 26 They served as judges for the people at all times. The difficult cases they brought to Moses, but the simple ones they decided themselves.

Galatians 2
2 I went in response to a revelation and, meeting privately with those esteemed as leaders, I presented to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. I wanted to be sure I was not running and had not been running my race in vain.

In other words, a leader submits to his own leaders. A leader should be capable of leading (capable means knowledgeable, courageous, decisive, and efficient). A leader must be able to judge right from wrong in the behaviors of and for his family.

Joshua 9
15 Then Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the assembly ratified it by oath.
A leader is a peacekeeper for his people among other organizations.

Judges 5
8 God chose new leaders when war came to the city gates, but not a shield or spear was seen among forty thousand in Israel.

In other words, a leader protects his people from slander and aggression.

1 Chronicles 26

12 These divisions of the gatekeepers, through their leaders, had duties for ministering in the temple of the LORD, just as their relatives had. 13 Lots were cast for each gate, according to their families, young and old alike.

In other words, a leader organizes, allots tasks, and is understanding to the religious beliefs of each of his subordinates.

1 Chronicles 28
6 He said to me: ‘Solomon your son is the one who will build my house and my courts, for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father. 7 I will establish his kingdom forever if he is unswerving in carrying out my commands and laws, as is being done at this time.’

1 Chronicles 29
1 Then King David said to the whole assembly: “My son Solomon, the one whom God has chosen, is young and inexperienced. The task is great, because this palatial structure is not for man but for the LORD God.

In other words, a leader is not resentful or oppressive; he does not question the promotions of his subordinates, especially when he believes the subordinate too young and inexperienced to lead. He gladly sets him free and is happy for him.

A leader may be young and technically inexperienced, but he may be wise in the ways of God making him very successful in what he does and will do.

1 Chronicles 29
9 The people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the LORD.
A leader gives only from the heart. He is neither a manipulator nor thief having any ulterior motive. He hopes he may receive back in kind what he has given, but does not need it to stay kind and fair.

2 Chronicles 13
12 God is with us; he is our leader. His priests with their trumpets will sound the battle cry against you. People of Israel, do not fight against the LORD, the God of your ancestors, for you will not succeed.”

John 12
42 Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue;

1 Corinthians 3
21 So then, no more boasting about human leaders!

God is a leader’s true Father above anyone else. To idolize or fear a person in higher power as compared to God only will lead you to folly.

Zechariah 10
3 “My anger burns against the shepherds, and I will punish the leaders; for the LORD Almighty will care for his flock, the people of Judah, and make them like a proud horse in battle. 4 From Judah will come the cornerstone, from him the tent peg, from him the battle bow, from him every ruler. 5 Together they[a] will be like warriors in battle trampling their enemy into the mud of the streets. They will fight because the LORD is with them, and they will put the enemy horsemen to shame.

In other words, a leader who will not lead in God, will be washed aside and a new leader will prevail. UnGodly leaders are those who oppress and fear wrath because they do not revere God more.

Luke 13
14 Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue leader said to the people, “There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.”
15 The Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie your ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water?

In other words, a leader is always available to his subordinates in times of need.

Acts 3
17 “Now, fellow Israelites, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders.
A leader is human and will make mistakes. But when once no longer ignorant, a leader must adjust his ways.

Acts 13
15 After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the leaders of the synagogue sent word to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have a word of exhortation for the people, please speak.”
It is right for a leader to provide sound advice even when his subordinates are ignorant and do not believe they need it.

Acts 18
8 Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard Paul believed and were baptized.

In other words, a leader is someone who believes in the Lord. He is baptized because he wants to be. He knows he too has shortcomings that only God can heal.

Acts 18
17 Then the crowd there turned on Sosthenes the synagogue leader and beat him in front of the proconsul; and Gallio showed no concern whatever.
When a leader stands up for his beliefs and knows what is wise, there is a good chance he will be crucified by at least someone in the group.

Acts 25
5 Let some of your leaders come with me, and if the man has done anything wrong, they can press charges against him there.”

In other words, leaders have the right to press charges when it is done to protect the rest, and he has the right to remove a person who has done wrong from the group for a temporary period of time under the leader‘s own authority for the person to think about what he has done and discuss with the leader on how to remedy it.

1 Corinthians 3
1 Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ.

In other words, a leader must understand that new subordinates must be built up consistently and over time in order for them to find quality and honor in themselves.

Hebrews 13
7 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.
Leaders must not be afraid to speak from Bible to his subordinates when it exhorts and edifies them. Leaders must exemplify goodness to be imitated, knowing that he will still always fall short of perfection.

Hebrews 13
17 Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.

Leaders serve others with respect and confidence and are to be served well in return, though is not always the case.

 

Ref 2: How you can find the leader in you.

Acts 18
8 Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard Paul believed and were baptized.

In other words, a leader is someone who believes in the Lord. He is baptized into leadership because he wants to be, but he too knows he has shortcomings that only God can help him overcome.

Gallio ruled that the case was outside his jurisdiction and sent the Jews away with the words, “see to it yourselves” (Acts 18:15). Without further invitation the Jews then seized Sosthenes, the synagogue ruler, and beat him (Acts 18:17). This beating of Sosthenes makes perfect sense if he was Crispus, the synagogue ruler who had defected to Paul’s camp. Sosthenes cannot have been a non-Christian Jew because it is inconceivable that the Jews would have beaten up their own benefactor, especially during a time of food shortage. The Jews would have resented Cripsus Sosthenes’s breaking of a benefactor-beneficiary relationship with them. It seems, then, that the Jews beat Sosthenes because they were hungry. This is fully to be expected because “a hungry mob is an angry mob” (3) and hunger was a common cause of violence in the ancient world. It is significant that the beating occurred in front of the tribunal rather than in a secluded spot. By choosing this location the Jews made an example of Sosthenes and made it clear to all that Gallio had given them jurisdiction in the matter. This makes perfect sense if Sosthenes was beaten for being a Christian benefactor: the Jews wanted to show that they would not allow fellow Jews to fund the Christians.
–from http://members.shaw.ca/rfellows/Site/Sosthenes.html

He is afraid to continue with what he believes himself to be but does it anyway by separating with the old and searching for the new. It is in his courage of going through the unknown to become a leader that his own leadership is unveiled more over time.

What some may call, “a natural born leader” is only someone with an intrinsic willingness to lead, but how he leads is what can actually make him a good leader. Thus, a person with a desire to be a leader asks God and others to help him become a leader. Crispus found Christ through and was mentored by the teachings of Saint Paul.
Your job is to find a mentor to help you lead. It can be me or someone else. It is your choice. In our last class, I showed you the traits of a leader. Your mentor should have several of these traits. When you find someone like this, the crucial thing you must do is simply ask him or her to teach you. And it is his or her job to say yes. If you choose someone else, then I’ll say goodbye now. If it is me, I will see you next week when we will discuss Leading by how well you Listen to your mentor.

 

Ref 3: Leading by First Listening.

John 10
27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

In other words, a leader is someone who listens to God’s voice in him directing his path apart from his own ego.

Last week we talked about separating. We had to separate from the old and begin listening to the new. For a new leader, he must first stop listening to what he knows and begin listening to what God knows for him. The question is how.

The word “listen” stands for:
L: Look
I: Inside
S: Self
T: To
E: Engage
N: Need (God; See Matthew 6:8)

Matthew 6
8 Do not be like (separate from) them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
A leader must know the Scriptures and listen to the Word as it tells you who it is and what to do while reading it. Then that voice will appear within you and you will be able to ask it for direction wherever you are. And you will then also want others to hear theirs as well because listening leads to compassion and understanding.

Luke 24
32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scripture to us?”

In other words, a leader you must be able to discern from what his mentor and everyone else says to what direction God wants him to go in.

A mentor is only an aid to help serve you Godly needs. You may have many mentors in your life time simply because it may come a time when your current mentor can no longer help open the necessary doors for you. But before you can discern you must commit yourself to learning and knowing Scripture and its voice speaking to and in you.

 

Ref 4: Understanding the Leadership S.T.R.U.C.T.U.R.E.

It has been my experience that any productive office environment has a leader who has within himself these nine traits.

We went over one of the traits, namely Unconditional Love or God, last week. Now we will go over the other eight.
I place all nine traits to spell out the word Structure to make it easier to remember.

A leader creates a good environment by taking care of:

S: Standards (Policies, Morals, Boundaries)
A leader must have standards that he will not flinch with. They are exacting. For instance, a leader may have zero tolerance on illegal drug use in and out of the office. He may also have a warning policy on disrespecting other employees. These standards must be provided in some written form to the employees.

Numbers 1
52 The Israelites are to set up their tents by divisions, each of them in their own camp under their standard.

Ezekiel 11
12 And you will know that I am the LORD, for you have not followed my decrees or kept my laws but have conformed to the standards of the nations around you.

T: Training
A leader must be highly trained in his job. This means that a good leader will have not only the knowledge but the wisdom to perform technically and relationally in his job. Many times the knowledge is easier to attain than the wisdom. This is why it is important that the leader continue to increase his technical knowledge through formal or on-the-job training while remaining flexible to other’s way of doing things. He must sit back sometimes and observe how others do things in order to see the good truth of the job and make some of it his own.

Luke 6
40 The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher [in knowledge and wisdom].

2 Chronicles 2
14 He is trained to work in gold and silver, bronze and iron, stone and wood, and with purple and blue and crimson yarn and fine linen. He is experienced in all kinds of engraving and can execute any design given to him. He will work with your skilled workers and with those of my lord, David your father.

R: Relationships

A leader must have strong relationships with other leaders of other groups.

Judges 18
27 Then they [the Danites] took what Micah had made, and his priest, and went on to Laish, against a people at peace and secure. They attacked them with the sword and burned down their city. 28 There was no one to rescue them because they lived a long way from Sidon and had no relationship with anyone else. The city was in a valley near Beth Rehob. The Danites rebuilt the city and settled there.

Proverbs 31
23 He is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.

U: Utilities

A leader must have the ability to take care of his office family. In Proverbs, I replace the word “wife” with the word “leader”.

Proverbs 31
10 A leader of noble character who can find? He is worth far more than rubies. 11 People has full confidence in him and lacks nothing of value. 12 He brings them good, not harm, all the days of their lives. 13 He selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. 14 He is like the merchant ships, bringing food from afar. 15 He gets up while it is still night; he provides food for his family. 16 He considers a field and buys it; out of him earnings he plants a vineyard. 17 He sets about him work vigorously; him arms are strong for his tasks. 18 He sees that his trading is profitable, and his lamp does not go out at night. 19 In his hand he holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with his fingers. 20 He opens his arms to the poor and extends his hands to the needy. 21 When it snows, he has no fear for his household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet. 22 He makes coverings for his bed; he is clothed in fine linen and purple. 23 He is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land. 24 He makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes. 25 He is clothed with strength and dignity; he can laugh at the days to come. 26 He speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on his tongue. 27 He watches over the affairs of his household and does not eat the bread of idleness. 28 His employees arise and call him blessed; others also, and he praises them: 29 “Many people do noble things, but you surpass them all.” 30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a leader who fears the LORD is to be praised. 31 Honor him for all that his hands have done, and let his works bring him praise at the city gate.

C: Costs
A leader must have the ability to manage the budget well for his office.

Genesis 47
18 When that year was over, they came to him the following year and said, “We cannot hide from our lord the fact that since our money is gone and our livestock belongs to you, there is nothing left for our lord except our bodies and our land.

2 Kings 12
11 When the amount had been determined, they gave the money to the men appointed to supervise the work on the temple. With it they paid those who worked on the temple of the LORD—the carpenters and builders, 12 the masons and stonecutters. They purchased timber and blocks of dressed stone for the repair of the temple of the LORD, and met all the other expenses of restoring the temple.
13 The money brought into the temple was not spent for making silver basins, wick trimmers, sprinkling bowls, trumpets or any other articles of gold or silver for the temple of the LORD; 14 it was paid to the workers, who used it to repair the temple. 15 They did not require an accounting from those to whom they gave the money to pay the workers, because they acted with complete honesty.

Proverbs 13
11 Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.

Matthew 25:16
16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more.

Luke 3
14 Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?” He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.”

Acts 5
2 With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet. 3 Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? 4 Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.

1 Corinthians 16
2 On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.

T: Time Management

A leader must have the ability to manage time wisely by the knowledge he has gained and by listening to his bosses instructions and carrying them out as stated. You may have to pause many times to make several decisions on how to streamline several activities in the overall task you are doing.

1 Peter 4
1 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. 2 As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. 3 For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. 4 They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you. 5 But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to human standards in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.
7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.

Parable of the Woman with a Ship
God and a woman came to a shore of a great ocean and God asked the woman, “My child, go find us a canoe.” The woman looked a little bewildered but said, “Yes, God”, and off she went. In a little while, she came upon a canoe and said to herself, “This canoe is okay, but if I got God a ship, how glorious that would be! God deserves a ship, not a canoe. So, she went off and searched for a ship to bring God.

Three years later, God looked over the horizon and saw a ship coming his way. And as it drew closer, God saw the woman sail the ship and anchor it off-shore. When the woman stepped on shore, she approached God in all gladness and also all bruised, broken, out of breath, her knees wobbling and arms dangling at her side. “For you God, here is your ship you so richly deserve! And now we can traverse the ocean in comfort and style and ease.” Exhausted, the woman then fell to her knees before God.

God said to the woman, “My child, you didn’t need to go through all that trouble. I needed the canoe I ask for so we could go down this small river over here to get to the ship you brought me.”

U: Unconditional Love (God)

A leader must have the ability of God’s compassion and enduring patience. You are learning this from Service and Bible class and practicing what you are learning in your daily lives.

R: Resources (Provisions)

A leader must have the ability to access what is needed for his employees and provide it to them with relative ease.

Ezra 7
20 And anything else needed for the temple of your God that you are responsible to supply, you may provide from the royal treasury.

Joshua 9:27
27 That day he made the Gibeonites woodcutters and water carriers for the assembly, to provide for the needs of the altar of the LORD at the place the LORD would choose. And that is what they are to this day.

Ruth 3
1 One day Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi said to her, “My daughter, I must find a home[a] for you, where you will be well provided for.

1 Kings 4
7 Solomon had twelve district governors over all Israel, who supplied provisions for the king and the royal household. Each one had to provide supplies for one month in the year.

2 Chronicles 26
14 Uzziah provided shields, spears, helmets, coats of armor, bows and slingstones for the entire army.

E: Enjoyment

A leader has the ability to enjoy himself as he works.

Ecclesiastes 3

22 So I saw that there is nothing better for a person than to enjoy their work, because that is their lot.

Ecclesiastes 5
19 Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God.

Nehemiah 8
10 Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”
This week’s assignment is to describe how your office is performing in each of the areas above. Remember that the religion aspect of Unconditional Love is being taken care of outside the office through attending Service and Bible Class.

 

Ref 5: Gaining Respect from Your Employees

Ephesians 4
7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8 This is why it says:
“When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.”
9 (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions[c]? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

John 8
31 Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

 

Ref 6: Putting Action into Godly Action

2 Thessalonians 1
11 With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith.

2 Thessalonians 2
15 So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings[c] we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. 16 May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, 17 encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.

 

Ref 7: Accepting and Adjusting Your Outcome

When we start taking responsibility for our deficiencies that we denied, and at the same time knew we should have attended to, we start to feel better. These are known as transgressions or spiritual indebtedness. Your spirit becomes in line with God like in 2 Thessalonians 1:11 in helping to remove these transgressions. You start to feel more valuable with a greater esteem for yourself. If this happened to you, you may be sensing that you want to do more than just having to do more.

2 Thessalonians 1
11 With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith.

Psalm 103
6 The LORD works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.
7 He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel: 8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. 9 He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; 10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. 11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; 12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

A “wanting to” desire comes from accepting responsibility for yourself, and you’re willingness to adjust to increase your worth for God.  In other words, your own spirit or self-esteem is beginning to rise. It is a resurrection in the making.

Romans 15
7 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.

1 Peter 2
5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

 

Ref 8: Going Forward through Unpopular Circumstances

Going forward through unpopular circumstances is the same as how devoted you are to your cause. Devotion is a long term action to a solid end. You will need to get to a point in each area where you know you are good-to-go and your transgression (sins) are so minimal to almost not even be considered and all of grace will take over. And that is our goal—to be delivered into the peace that is God.  In other words, when you decide that what you are doing is getting you off track and is a just a waste of time, you will find greater peace in your life.

2 Corinthians 12
8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Hebrews 10
11 Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. 14 For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. 15 The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: 16 “This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.” 17 Then he adds: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.” 18 And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary.

 

Ref 9: When you Know You are Done

You are done when you feel you have solidified yourself with God in you. You realize you are enough and a complete person. Then it will be time to deliver the actual leader in you with all your knowledge and wisdom you’ve attained.

Colossians
2 My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. 5 For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in Christ is.

 

Ref 10: Delivering/Promoting Yourself and Your Product to your Customer or Boss.

It has been my experience that waiting for your customer or boss, who is not God, to come around is fruitless. Whatever you desire that comes from God in you, they don’t truly desire because they don’t know your God. And it is sad to say that most don’t want to know your God. This is why you must go forth anyway to what you believe is right with the Godly understanding you have attained. As a leader, you must make the difficult decisions and do what you believe is best for your team or group. This is how you deliver yourself and your product to your customer or boss. Nothing less will do in your heart, and if you don’t do it this way, you will wind up resenting yourself later. Chances are they won’t like it, but they will have to accept some part of it in the long run. Delivering yourself and standing up for yourself delivering your own standards (see Ref 4) go hand-in-hand. You must constantly submit pressure on human authority with deference and discernment in order to gain your cause in some form or fashion. Only this will lead to your own happiness in life.

1 Corinthians 10
23 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. 24 No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.

Philippians 2
1 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. 14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky 16 as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. 17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.