Christmas is fast approaching. As I reflect upon the first Christmas, I am reminded of the standard characters that complete the Ch
ristmas scene – Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, the wise men, and of course, Jesus. Each of these characters could speak to leadership in some fashion. However, I want to consider the wise men. The Bible talks about how they followed a star. To me, that seems extremely odd. I don’t often look to the stars – except when I’m camping and become overwhelmed with their beauty. But, for me, a star is a star. For the wise men, stars were navigational tools and often spoke of greater significance. So, one day, these men see a star and start to follow it… Everyone else saw the star but not everyone else paid attention to the significance. As a result despite many seeing the star, only those who paid attention to the meaning of the star and only those who “understood” the star, saw Jesus.
The Bible has an interesting verse in 1 Chronicles 12:32 that says, “The men of Issachar, who understood the times and knew what Israel should do.” I am fascinated by this verse because it speaks of leaders who saw what everyone else saw, but at a greater level. These men not only saw the times, they saw the meaning of the times and therefore knew what to do. That probably can be said of the wise men – they saw the star, understood it’s significance and then understood what to do.
As humans, we will always see what everyone else sees. The picture is only painted in one way. However, as leaders, we must see what everyone else sees, with understanding. We must look at the issues of society and come to a place where we understand and know what to do. In fact, that is the main role of the leader – to know what to do with what everyone else sees. That task is daunting! Yet, as spiritual leaders, there comes a “supernatural” element that requires us to get our understanding from the Holy Spirit. Unless we do this, we are simply foolish leaders. I am challenged by the responsibility I have to see what everyone else sees…and yet to submit myself to the Spirit’s guidance to know what to do. For as a leader, I must not only see what is before me, but I also must see what is far off, down the road, lying in a manger…that which will impact the nations of the future.
Many fail to see the wonders of life because they fail to take time to understand. I admit life is so crazy that leadership often is about just getting things done. However, if we fail to see and understand, we are doomed to find ourselves exactly where we started. This means maintenance, stagnation, and ultimately death. So while it requires time and effort, leaders must ask the right questions about what the “signs” mean – where society, ministry, and life is going. The wise leader will never stay still but will always be on a journey, following what he/she understands as the path to something significant.
