Updated : 18/06/2005

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WHEN I THINK of Christian leadership whether in the church or in the market place, I am reminded of what the apostle Paul told the Corinthian believers about 'spiritual fathers'. He said, "You may have countless Christian guardians, but you don't have many spiritual fathers. I became your father in the Christian life … I encourage you to imitate me" (1 Cor 4.15,16). What Paul said about 'spiritual fathers' cannot be more true and apt about leadership, especially spiritual leadership. Yes! We are constantly swamped by great leaders and achievers who are only too willing to impart us their worldly leadership skills. But for you and I, the greatest leader of all is our Lord Jesus Christ. He is our true Master, Tutor and only perfect example to follow.

'Leadership is taught and not caught', the world assumes! Hence all the finest places of learning in the world offer the best courses available. Ambitious students run there and spend long years and millions of dollars to attain the paper qualifications for leadership. But it was different when the Lord Jesus wanted to train and make leaders who would take up the baton from Him and carry on the work of the Kingdom of God in the whole world. He chose the twelve ordinary folks and let them live with Him for three and a half long years.

When Jesus began calling His disciples, He declared His curriculum: "FOLLOW ME AND I WILL MAKE YOU LIKE ME - FISHERS OF MEN!" (Mt 4.19). He charged no fees but He demanded their allegiance for life, in exchange! Jesus taught the twelve invaluable lessons of life-management that no Harvard or Oxford would ever teach in their multi-year MBA and PhD courses. That is why when you and I as leaders or aspiring leaders want to learn the principles of leadership we must look for Jesus. Reading books, even the Bible will give us only knowledge about Jesus and His principles and pattern of life. But they will never become yours unless you begin to walk with Jesus day by day. The result will not be merely ending up with a certificate however valuable it may be but being transformed like Him in life!

Want to be a leader like the greatest Leader the world has ever known and seen? Come, and see Jesus! Remember those were the very words that Jesus spoke to Andrew and his friend who followed to watch Jesus. (Jn 1.39). Just like the twelve, we will learn principles of leadership which we will never get from anyone, anywhere! Mind you, they are by no means 'simply spiritual' but wholesome and practical!

Let us go the Master Leader and begin to live with Him and learn from Him and become like Him! He said, "Come and see". Jesus was friendly, hospitable, open, transparent and caring! Let all of us, be more and more like Jesus so that less and less needy people would be complaining, 'no one cares!'

I see Jesus often left the crowd and even His twelve disciples to spend time alone with His Father in heaven. He communed continuously with God the Father. So much so Jesus did nothing which the Father didn't tell Him to do. He didn't even say anything other than what the Father told Him! Jesus knew where His authority lay. It was in the Father. He did nothing on His own. He came to do the Father's will and He completed it. Jesus told His busy disciples: "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place." (Mk 6.31). Only there you can watch Him closely.

I see the Saviour full of compassion. The number of times He groaned with agony seeing the big crowds of needy, poor and sick people mentioned in the gospels are many to count (Mt 9.36; 14.14). He could have just preached the gospel and cared less for the physical needs of the crowed. Jesus couldn't! He had to heal, meet their physical needs whatever they were! In contrast, we see the disciples saying to the master, "Send the crowds away, so they can go and buy themselves some food" (Mt 14.14,15). Some of us today want to be leaders but we will not raise one little finger or take time to minister a little comfort to the oppressed and needy! If we keep looking to Jesus, we cannot but share His burden for the people!

The Master was full of the Holy Spirit and power when He began to minister (Lk 4.14). The secret: He was willing to deny Himself by protracted fasting and prayer to the Father. Some of us want to sing, shout, testify and preach before the crowd but self-denying and sacrifice, we shun. How we need to imitate Jesus!

I see the Master and Leader ever so humble and willing to stoop to wash the feet of His poor disciples! He said, "the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Mt 20.28). He did it because they needed to be cleansed and because He was humble enough to do it! The Master washed the disciples' feet because He also wanted to show them by example how to humble oneself and minister to the needs of others! (Jn 13.15). Let us imitate Him.

Finally, I find the Master on His knees in the Garden of Gethsemane. He gave up His will and accepted the will of the Father. He gave up His life as a sacrifice for my sin and yours on the cross! How could I hold on to my will any more and insist that it must always prevail? If you want to please God and Jesus your Master and minister to the needy people, you must learn to give up your self-will!

Also don't forget the Master's patience and long-suffering before the Caiaphas the High Priest, King Herod and Pilate the governor, who confronted Him and the people who falsely accused Him. Jesus shunned hypocrisy. He hated iniquity. We too must.

It is no surprise that the greatest of all apostles, Paul told the believers, "Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ!".