Leading Through Uncertainty: Embracing Humility and Stewardship
Summary
In today's message, we embarked on a new series titled "Leading Through," focusing on three essentials for navigating uncertainty. We find ourselves in a time where many are picking up the pieces and moving forward, often with the responsibility of guiding others. Whether you're a parent, a manager, or a community leader, people look to you for direction, inspiration, and hope. Leadership, especially in uncertain times, is not for the faint of heart. It's crucial to acknowledge that we don't have all the answers and that humility in leadership is vital.
Uncertainty is a constant in life and leadership, and it's precisely why leaders are needed. Leadership is a stewardship, a responsibility given to us temporarily, and we are accountable for how we manage it. This concept is illustrated through the story of King Nebuchadnezzar from the Hebrew scriptures. Nebuchadnezzar, a powerful leader, confused progress with greatness and was ultimately humbled by God. His story teaches us that leadership is a gift, it's temporary, and we are accountable to God for how we use our influence.
Nebuchadnezzar's downfall came when he failed to recognize that his power was on loan from God. He was reminded that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms and gives them to anyone He wishes. This narrative serves as a powerful reminder that our influence is not for self-glorification but for serving others. As leaders, we must leverage our influence for the benefit of those we lead, understanding that our time and authority are temporary.
As we continue this series, we will explore the three essentials for leading through disruption and uncertainty. These principles are non-negotiable and more critical than ever in times of uncertainty. Join us next time as we delve into the first essential for effective leadership in challenging times.
Key Takeaways:
- Leadership as Stewardship: Leadership is a stewardship, a responsibility temporarily entrusted to us. It is not about owning people but serving them, recognizing that our influence is on loan from God. This perspective fosters humility and accountability in leadership. [03:05]
- The Temporality of Influence: Our influence and authority are temporary, with an expiration date. This awareness should shape our leadership approach, encouraging us to lead with the end in mind and focus on leaving a positive legacy. [04:12]
- Accountability Beyond Human Structures: As leaders, our accountability extends beyond bosses or boards to God. Recognizing that we are accountable to God for how we lead and influence others instills a sense of responsibility and purpose in our leadership. [05:13]
- The Danger of Pride in Leadership: Nebuchadnezzar's story warns against the dangers of pride and self-glorification in leadership. True greatness is not about personal progress but about acknowledging God's sovereignty and serving others. [14:56]
- Leveraging Influence for Others: Effective leadership involves leveraging our influence for the benefit of those we lead. By viewing our leadership as a temporary stewardship, we are more likely to focus on serving others rather than ourselves. [26:00]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:09] - Introduction to the Series
[00:33] - Navigating Uncertainty
[01:02] - The Challenge of Leadership
[01:29] - Embracing Humility
[02:14] - The Need for Leaders
[02:40] - Leadership as Stewardship
[03:47] - Responsibility to People
[04:00] - The Temporality of Influence
[05:13] - Accountability to God
[06:00] - Nebuchadnezzar's Story
[09:20] - The Dream's Meaning
[12:18] - Nebuchadnezzar's Humbling
[14:56] - Lessons from Nebuchadnezzar
[25:17] - Influence as a Stewardship
[27:24] - Conclusion and Next Steps
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: "Leading Through"
Bible Reading:
1. Daniel 4:28-37 - The story of King Nebuchadnezzar's humbling and restoration.
2. Daniel 5:1-31 - The story of King Belshazzar and the writing on the wall.
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Observation Questions:
1. What was the main reason for King Nebuchadnezzar's downfall according to the sermon? ([06:00])
2. How did King Nebuchadnezzar's perception of his power change after his humbling experience? ([14:12])
3. What actions did King Belshazzar take that led to the writing on the wall? ([18:09])
4. How did Daniel interpret the writing on the wall for King Belshazzar? ([23:33])
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the story of Nebuchadnezzar illustrate the concept of leadership as a stewardship? ([15:19])
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that leaders are accountable to God for their influence? ([05:13])
3. How does the narrative of Belshazzar's downfall serve as a warning against pride in leadership? ([22:04])
4. What does the sermon imply about the temporary nature of influence and authority? ([04:12])
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you were in a leadership position. How did you view your influence—as a personal achievement or as a stewardship? How might this perspective change your approach to leadership now? ([03:05])
2. Consider the areas of your life where you have influence. How can you ensure that you are leveraging this influence for the benefit of others rather than for self-glorification? ([26:00])
3. In what ways can you practice humility in your leadership roles, acknowledging that you don't have all the answers? How might this humility impact those you lead? ([01:29])
4. How can you prepare for the eventual end of your influence in your current roles? What steps can you take to ensure you leave a positive legacy? ([04:12])
5. Think about a situation where you might have let pride affect your leadership. How can you address this and seek to serve others more effectively? ([14:56])
6. How can you hold yourself accountable to God in your leadership, and what practical steps can you take to align your actions with this accountability? ([05:13])
7. Identify one specific way you can serve those you lead this week, focusing on their needs rather than your own. What action will you take to make this happen? ([26:00])
Devotional
Day 1: Leadership as a Sacred Trust
Leadership is not about ownership or control but about stewardship. It is a responsibility temporarily entrusted to us, meant to serve others and honor God. This perspective fosters humility and accountability, reminding us that our influence is on loan from God. Leaders are called to serve, not to be served, and to recognize that their authority is a gift that should be used wisely and selflessly. By embracing this mindset, leaders can create environments where people feel valued and empowered, ultimately reflecting the character of Christ in their leadership. [03:05]
Daniel 4:34-35 (ESV): "At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, 'What have you done?'"
Reflection: In what ways can you shift your leadership approach to focus more on serving others rather than seeking personal gain or recognition?
Day 2: The Fleeting Nature of Influence
Our influence and authority are temporary, with an expiration date. This awareness should shape our leadership approach, encouraging us to lead with the end in mind and focus on leaving a positive legacy. Recognizing the temporality of influence helps leaders prioritize what truly matters, ensuring that their actions and decisions align with their values and the greater good. By leading with the end in mind, leaders can create lasting impact and inspire others to continue the work long after their tenure has ended. [04:12]
James 4:14 (ESV): "Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes."
Reflection: What legacy do you want to leave behind in your current leadership role, and what steps can you take today to work towards that legacy?
Day 3: Accountability to a Higher Authority
As leaders, our accountability extends beyond human structures to God. Recognizing that we are accountable to God for how we lead and influence others instills a sense of responsibility and purpose in our leadership. This understanding encourages leaders to act with integrity, make ethical decisions, and prioritize the well-being of those they lead. By acknowledging their accountability to God, leaders can find strength and guidance in their faith, allowing them to navigate challenges with wisdom and grace. [05:13]
Hebrews 4:13 (ESV): "And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account."
Reflection: How does knowing that you are accountable to God for your leadership decisions influence the way you lead today?
Day 4: The Perils of Pride in Leadership
Nebuchadnezzar's story warns against the dangers of pride and self-glorification in leadership. True greatness is not about personal progress but about acknowledging God's sovereignty and serving others. Pride can lead to a downfall, as it blinds leaders to their limitations and the needs of those they lead. By embracing humility and recognizing their dependence on God, leaders can avoid the pitfalls of pride and cultivate a leadership style that is grounded in service and compassion. [14:56]
Proverbs 16:18 (ESV): "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall."
Reflection: In what areas of your leadership might pride be hindering your effectiveness, and how can you cultivate humility in those areas?
Day 5: Using Influence for the Benefit of Others
Effective leadership involves leveraging our influence for the benefit of those we lead. By viewing our leadership as a temporary stewardship, we are more likely to focus on serving others rather than ourselves. This approach fosters a culture of collaboration, trust, and mutual respect, where everyone feels valued and empowered to contribute their best. Leaders who prioritize the well-being of their team create environments where people can thrive and achieve their full potential, ultimately leading to greater success and fulfillment for all. [26:00]
Philippians 2:3-4 (ESV): "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others."
Reflection: How can you use your current position of influence to uplift and empower those around you today?
Quotes
"Leadership is a stewardship. Now we don't use the term stewardship very much, but in ancient times a steward was someone appointed by a king to represent the king. So a steward had the authority of their authority, the king, because the king loaned it to them. It was given to them, and it could be taken away. And as we're gonna discover, this is true of our influence and our leadership as well." [00:03:05]
"Not only is it a stewardship, it's temporary, it's temporary. The clock is ticking. Time will eventually run out on your influence. Time will eventually run out on your authority. Eventually it'll either be taken away from us, or we will simply give it away, because it's temporary. And the reason it's temporary is we're temporary." [00:04:12]
"And we are accountable. Everybody is accountable to somebody for how they steward or manage their influence. But today's narrative, today's narrative reminds all of us that our accountability, our accountability as leaders goes beyond a boss, a board, a constituency, or a base." [00:05:13]
"That all the world would know that 'the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of people.' So when Nebuchadnezzar wakes up from this dream, he is terrified, and he knows it has something to do with him." [00:09:20]
"King Nebuchadnezzar, here's what the dream means. 'The Most High God has decreed that you will be driven away from humanity. That you're about to become like a wild animal. That you're going to humiliate yourself publicly. And that this will go on until you finally acknowledge,' and then maybe he takes another step back, 'until you finally acknowledge that the Most High God, not you and not Marduk, is sovereign over the kingdoms of men.'" [00:12:18]
"Leadership, even kingship, is a stewardship. It's a gift, it's temporary. Leaders and kings, leaders and kings are accountable. And so we dare not, this is our lesson, we dare not leverage our power, we dare not leverage our influence to oppress." [00:25:17]
"Your talent, your education, your family connections, your hard work, your discipline, or maybe just your plain luck, you know, puts you in a place of influence. But what you do with that influence determines whether or not you are a leader worth following, a leader worth emulating." [00:26:00]
"When we view our influence, however great or small, when we view it as a temporary stewardship for which we are accountable, we will be far less likely to spend it all, focus it at all, or leverage it all on ourself. And we will be far more inclined to leverage our leadership and our influence for the sake of those we have the privilege to lead." [00:27:24]
"We won't need to be reminded that greatness is more than progress. When we embrace this definition of leadership that incorporates the idea that it's a stewardship, that it's temporary and that we're accountable, we won't have to be reminded that people matter, that people matter most, that what's best for people is always what's best." [00:28:37]
"We won't need to be reminded that people matter to God, because we will live with the understanding that it's God who loaned us our temporary opportunity to begin with. So, whether you're leading a family, a business, a nonprofit, a division, a department, a team, a city, a state, or a nation, remember this." [00:29:55]
"Leadership, leadership at every level, leadership is always a stewardship. It is always temporary. And you are accountable. And here's why. Because the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men, and he gives them temporarily to any one he wishes." [00:30:12]
"Now all of that is simply the setup or the context for where we're going over the next three weeks. And next time we're gonna tackle the first of these three essentials for leading through times of disruption and uncertainty, so please, please, please, don't miss part two of 'Leading Through.'" [00:31:38]
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