Thrall, Bill, Bruce McNicol, and Ken McElrath, 1999. The Ascent of a Leader: How Ordinary Relationships Develop Extraordinary Character and Influence. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.Introduction
The image of “climbing the ladder” of success is commonly mentioned in the world of business. Achievement on the job requires ingenuity and experience that can only be gained through climbing up the ladder one rung at a time. What is success as a follower of Jesus Christ? Is the ladder to success in Christ the same? Thrall and his coauthors say it is not. Rather the successful follower of Jesus Christ is the one who focuses on internal development of the life of the leader, rather than the outward manifestations of achievement and success. It seems to me that there will always be a measure of success in the outcome of a healthy, well-connected inner life – one in close relationship with the Living Christ.
1. A Different Ladder to Success
Developing an interdependent relationship connection with those for whom I am responsible has been helpful to me in ministry. I work at maintaining a system of accountability for my corps (church) leadership, staff and volunteers. I, in turn, am accountable to others in leadership over me, collateral council members and corps leaders. With the success or failure of my ministry, I am ultimately responsible; however my team bears a portion of the honor and the burden. In personal regard, I am responsible before the Lord and therefore need to be well-connected to Him.
2. Big Leaders on Short Ladders
In the early spring of 1998, I encountered a disaster that changed my perspective on ministry and what ministry success was. I was flooded with ministry demands in the wake of a tornado that nearly destroyed my life. I came face-to-face with the reality that I was not a little god, lending help to the big GOD, nor would I ever be. The ladder of my success was propped against a failed image. The ladder fell and the Lord began the healing of my heart and soul.
3. Creating Environments That Uphold and Empower Us
Here the rails of “environments of grace” and “relationships of grace” hold me up. I thank God that I minister in an environment of grace and that there is a level of grace given me for my misjudgments, tardiness and occasional narrow-minded thinking. Not only are we able to see great things that God wants to accomplish, we also have seen some of these dreams become reality. Accomplishing God’s best comes in the environment of grace.
4. Nurturing Relationships That Ground and Sustain Us
It is easier to focus on tasks, financials, statistics and doing, rather than on people and their soul’s well-being. Relationships and spiritual development take time and attention and effort to sustain, let alone grow. The work of ministry and spiritual leadership require a healthy It is the grace-filled, encouraging and even the “speaking the truth in love” relationships that will lead us to success measured and given by God.
5. The First Rung: Stepping Up Through an Act of Trust
Trust brings salvation. My role in my personal salvation is put the full weight of my faith on the Lord. I say, “I don’t understand what I am encountering today, but I trust you, Lord.” How do I translate this to the trust of others? My calling is to humbly live a life of integrity, trusting those around me, my family, friends, collaterals and leaders with the full weight of my faith in them.
6. The Second Rung: Choosing Vulnerability
Following the line of thinking of the previous chapter, integrity and trust pushes me up to a willingness to be vulnerable. I have been vulnerable before and have been hurt. The hurt I have felt in no way destroyed me. It was embarrassing, but this lasted a short period. Soon I was back on track with the Lord’s purposes. Certainly my experience with vulnerability gives me insight in how I might carefully treat those who I see are vulnerable.
7. The Third Rung: Aligning with Truth
My tendency in the past has been to be compliant in more cases than obedient. I am not proud of this and seek to an “alignment with truth” rather than an “alignment to please.” This speaks of the reality of the trust level I sense through the experience of my life. Much of this has changed in recent years, where I have the confidence to speak my disagreement in love and then follow with a passionate obedience those whom the Lord has put over me in authority.
8. The Fourth Rung: Paying the Price
My leadership is hindered on occasion by my desire for my ego-comfort, status quo or some other short route to success instead of seeing the vision of what God desires and what is most fruitful for the benefit of others. I lose my objectivity when I am physically or emotionally drained and spiritually dry. I need the freshness of my connection with the Lord each new day.
9. Chutes and Leaders: Stories from the Fourth Rung
Suffering is often viewed as a distraction – something to be avoided at all costs. Yet, it is clear that biblically, suffering is a tool to maturity in Christ. Suffering is a part of the refining fire of the Holy Spirit to temper and strengthen me. I don’t want it and do not seek it; however, God’s purposes and will are far more important than my temporary comforts. I pray that I will feel and say the same when I am under the fire.
10. The Fifth Rung: Discovering Your Destiny
I seek to keep a right perspective on who I am in Christ Jesus, how the Lord has gifted me and how His grace is experienced in my life. The right balance on this rung of the ladder will take the follower of Jesus higher. A person’s destiny is in the hands of God; yet, He is not completely mysterious about His plan for the lives of children. There are many tools that God uses to help one discover His purposes and will. People, Scripture, circumstances and my own passion has helped me find my destiny in the Lord’s working and planning.
11. Keeping Your Balance: Seven Challenges of the Fifth Rung
Keeping balance requires the development of character traits– servant leadership, wise stewardship, integrated convictions and compassion, teach-ability, humbly knowing and walking with God, sharing the benefits of success, right priorities, and community interdependence. In the right measure, the work of God in my life can be evidenced by these traits.
12. Becoming the Kind of Person Others Want to Follow
An environment of grace and a leadership of trust will lead to selflessness and interdependence that will honor and bless God, accomplish His Kingdom’s work in my life, my corps (church), my relationships with others and in connection with those for whom God has called me to oversee. I want to sow the seeds of that the Lord Jesus selects to bear fruit in the lives of those around me.
Conclusion
It would easier for me to hang on to the “short ladder” and achieve a measure of success that would build my ego, pay the bills and offer me and my family some security and comfort; however, that is not how Christ has called me. I am tempted from time to time to give in to a desire to “make money” or work a “nine-to-five” job, but the passion of my soul to plant within the hearts and lives of men, women, young people and children, the truth of Jesus Christ forces me to move forward, to climb higher and achieve, not the success of ego-pleasure, but of spiritual gold and wealth.
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