I'm been learning about oxymorons lately. You know what an oxymoron is right? An oxymoron is two words that are opposites and are used together. Some of the best examples are: Jumbo Shrimp, Government Efficiency, and Microsoft Works. Lately I've found a few that have intrigued me. I began studying Romans 12:1 and determined "living sacrifice" to be maybe my all-time favorite oxymoron. I'm going to preach a sermon one day on that verse and that subject in particular, but we will leave that for another day. I also studied Revelation 3:14-20 and determined "lukewarm Christian" to be an oxymoron. In fact, I'm not sure there is such a thing, but once again, we will leave that for another day.
Today, I would like to discuss another oxymoron that has become a reality for me. It is "insecure leader."
Unless you are in the desirable position of not having to work for anyone then you have likely worked for someone who is to some extent insecure. Over the past few years, I have come to realize that insecure leadership is not leadership at all. In fact, insecurity kills leadership potential. I feel that as a leader, one must be secure in who they are, where they are, where they are going, and how they intend to get there and lead others to that place. First and foremost a leader must lead. If you look back and nobody is following, then you aren't leading, you are just going for a walk. However, if there are people following or at the very least wanting to follow, then you had better be secure in that position.
Understand this, a leader who is insecure can think only of himself. Insecurity breeds self-centeredness. Therefore an insecure leader focuses only on himself when the very backbone of leadership is others. Without others, you are not a leader. Without others following, you are not leading. So if your focus in on yourself, then you are not focused on others which is at the very core what a leader should do!
INSECURITY MAKES YOU UNSURE.
BEING UNSURE MAKES YOU INDECISIVE.
INDECISION FRUSTRATES THOSE AROUND YOU.
FRUSTRATION LEADS TO LOW MORALE.
AND LOW MORALE LEADS TO NON-PRODUCTIVITY.
For a person who is called of God to be a leader in a church or in a para-church organization, the insecurity which leads to non-productivity leads to a lack of effectiveness and if the church is ineffective then lost people do not hear the greatest news that could ever be told and if the lost don't hear, how can they know about the One who gave His life that they might live and be secure in the fact that they are loved and accepted and have a future and a hope!?! Whew!
Think about the progression of Saul of the OT, the ultimate insecure leader. He went from being more afraid of people than of God. Then to shifting the blame and taking no responsibility of his actions. He began to become self-seeking and then jealous of others whom he viewed as a threat...mainly David. He distanced himself from David, became afraid of David, and sought to destroy David.
Today, you can spot an insecure leader. They can't give credit to others, they hide information from the "followers", they are threatened by others, they take more than they give, they limit the growth of those around them, and ultimately they cannot lead.
So the question for me has been...what do you do if you find yourself trying to follow an insecure leader? Or if you sense yourself becoming an insecure leader? Your help answering the question would be welcomed. I've had no problem over the past few years learning to define the question, now I await God to teach me the answer.
One last thought, this is not intended to be an indictment on anyone in particular. I am grateful for the calling which I have received from the Lord. I look forward to continuing to grow and mature. I want to be the best leader I can be for the cause of Christ. This is intended to help me grow and mature in Christ. I never want to find myself as an insecure leader. Because really, who wants to be an oxymoron.
