REAL LEADERS (Part 2)

REAL LEADERS (Part 2)

Adesina Abegunde

They Choose Purpose above Pleasures

Hebrews 11:25 (AMP)

²⁵ He chose a hard life with God's people rather than an opportunistic soft life of sin with the oppressors.

Hello beloved, a glorious Monday morning to you and a wonderful week in Jesus name. Thanks for taking time out to pray for me yesterday, I really appreciate it.

To continue our series on Real Leaders, I will be robbing minds with you today on a critical, costly and probably an unpopular habit of real leaders, which is choosing purpose above pleasure. Last week Monday, we examined the fact that real leadership is not accumulating titles but adding values. I hope you are adding values already?

Real leadership is choosing purpose above pleasures, even when it is painful.

The natural human nature is pleasure-seeking and unfortunately, this generation is fun-loving, they don’t just want anything hard or slow, this generation want everything easy, fast, cheap and if possible have no commitment to anything.

It is amazing how leaders get distracted by the pleasures of the position and lose sight of the purpose of the office, this is very obvious, especially, in our politicians here in Nigeria. So disheartening to also find that manifestation among religious leaders who are supposed to know better.

Leadership is not to have pleasures to enjoy but purpose to pursue. The reason why organizations surround their top leaders with seemingly pleasurable things like cars, house, vacation, fat salary and many more allowance is so that those leaders will not have to worry about those things and as such be focused on the purpose of the office in order to deliver, add values and be highly productive. Unfortunately, everyone gets focused and ill-motivated to join the rat race just for the sake of the pleasures, having no purpose to deliver.

One of my very dear friends, Pastor Wale Ojegbile, was asked by some well-meaning students to contest for a student body office while we were in the seminary. His answer to them was like a thunder strike to me, it is still guiding me till today when it comes to leadership. What was his answer? I HAVE NO VISION FOR IT. He was not deceived by titles.

Wow! Imagine they ask your daddy to come and be a governor and he reject it because he has no vision for it. I am sure you will organize deliverance prayer for him (just joking). You may even advise him to download one from google. The essence of election debates and manifesto is to allow contestant say their vision. Alas! Many are only helped to conjure up things that the aspirant does not even understand, and when the people get into the office, they manifest nonsense.

Real leaders focus on purpose and not pleasure, Moses knew that his purpose was to deliver the Israelites, to identify with the slaves, and not to enjoy the pleasures of being the next Pharaoh. How many can resign and let go of pleasure just to stand for the purpose they are meant to serve?

Don’t live day-to-day looking for a better-life, better job, etc. Look for the-life you were created to live; a life that makes other lives better. Don’t just set out looking for a pleasurable life, look for a purposeful life.

Choosing purpose above pleasures is a tough call for real leaders. Jesus modeled that for us as stated in Philippians 2:7-8 (AMP)

⁷ But stripped Himself [of all privileges and rightful dignity], so as to assume the guise of a servant (slave), in that He became like men and was born a human being. 

⁸ And after He had appeared in human form, He abased and humbled Himself [still further] and carried His obedience to the extreme of death, even the death of the cross!

   How to choose purpose above pleasure.

        1.      Humbly admit and repent of your inner drive or crave for pleasure.

        2.      Choose to put your pleasure-drive under check in everything you do.

       3.      Have a 360 degree leadership sense, that you are a leader and you can lead without holding an  office, as taught by John C. Maxwell.

      4.      Never accept a leadership role without having a vision for it. Vision-driven or purpose-driven leaders spend their resources for the course, while pleasure-driven leaders are always enriching themselves with the office.

       5.      Always have a clearly written vision or purpose for every leadership role you play 
     (Malachi 2:1-2). Write the purpose of your life, career, family, business, company and so on.

      6.      Always ask and find out what the purpose is costing you.

     7.      Make sure that the value you deliver is far above the salary you are paid. Your out-flow of  purpose must be greater than in-flow of pleasure. Become a gift that no amount of gift can pay for.

      8.      Always keep your purpose before you daily.

      9.      Have an accountability partner or team and a mentor that keep you in check.

I believe you will succeed in your leadership roles in Jesus name.

This week will be great for you in Jesus name.

As you cross to September this week, the LORD will preserve you and all yours in Jesus name.

God will re-communicate your real purpose and vision to you this week in Jesus name.

God bless you.