Get Up With God
highly caffeinated daily bible doses to help start your morning off right

It’s GOD @ WORK WEEK here on GUWG, where we’re taking an in-depth look at what the Bible says about the wonderful world of work.

We’ll start today with a question . . .

According to studies conducted by big-brained researchers in the business world, what’s the absolute #1 most important trait a leader must have to be successful?

Here are your choices:

• Charisma
• Intelligence
• Proactivity
• Results-orientation
• Communication skills
• Smooth dance moves
• Coordinating accessories
• Humility

The answer?  It may surprise you, but it’s the one hiding modestly at the end of the list . . . humility.

That may seem 100% counter-intuitive when you picture today’s typical CEO, but it’s true, according to the research team behind the landmark business book Good to Great (and others). Leaders who are truly (1) servant-hearted, (2) able to put others and the organization first and (3) willing to listen with humility to other points of view are the ones that people will follow.

If you really want to model yourself after a great leader, I humbly suggest you follow Jesus.  He said:

If anyone wants to be first,
he must be the very last,
and the servant of all.
(Matthew 9:35b)

The Apostle Paul added:

Your attitude should be the same
as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God
something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant.
(Ephesians 2:5-7a)

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit,
but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
(Philippians 2:3)

Let some of the words from the above verses percolate in your heart for a moment. Last, not first. Made himself nothing. Servant. No selfish ambition. Think of others as better.

BE HUMBLE

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit,
but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
(Philippians 2:3)

I should get this verse tattooed on my forehead so that every time I look in the mirror I’m reminded not to be a selfish moron.

If I’m absolutely honest, selfish ambition is what drives at least 82.3% of my activity at work. Waaaaaaaaay too often, I focus exclusively on what’s best for me. Not the company. Not my boss. Not my co-workers. Not our customers. Me. Me. Me.

Thank God for Jesus. He showed us a far better way . . .

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant.
(Ephesians 2:5-7a)

Let some of the words from the above verses percolate in you for a moment. No selfish ambition. Think of others as better. Made himself nothing. Servant. Humility.

A famous business author named Jim Collins once had a research team dig through mountains of facts and data to determine exactly what distinguishes great companies from merely good ones. What they found is that it all comes down to leadership and that the #1 trait a great leader must possess is . . . humility.

Want to be a great leader? I humbly suggest you follow Jesus. Just in case you’re like me and need a little extra reminding, here’s one more verse: