Do you want to enjoy leading? Zealously pursue God’s glory. Do hard things. But don’t just uncork your effort towards any old thing. Target the right thing; the central thing. How, you ask, do I do that? How can I, sinful as I am, in experiencing the joy of pleasing God? What makes his sense of approval more palpable?
These questions deliver us straight to the heart of our faith: the cross of Jesus Christ.
The Cross Catalyzes Joy
At the cross our status permanently changed. Through Christ’s substitutionary death and triumphant resurrection, God secured the most necessary ingredient to catalyzing joy: the approval of God. This transformation makes all the difference. “Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy” (1 Peter 2:10). You have been called “out of darkness into his marvelous light” (2:9). From the dead to the living. From slaves to sons. God has intervened, saved, and given us his stamp of approval.
You see, formerly our happiness was tied to our own self-exaltation. But now because of Jesus, everything has changed. Having God’s approval changes why we obey, aspire, and apply. Our identity shift fuels delight. Pursuing great things for self-glory shrinks our soul and diminishes our capacity for joy. Making God the center of our glory-drive enhances our joy in God.
We no longer live hungering for approval. We live motivated because we have approval. One disillusions us, the other inspires us. One is temporary, the other permanent. One drives us, the other delights us.
Think about it this way. From time to time you’ll hear reports about people who strike it rich. Occasionally they keep their jobs, though they no longer need the income. Even then their unexpected wealth changes why they work. When we’re only scraping by, we work for shelter, heat, and a good cheesesteak. But if we’re a multimillionaire, we work for pleasure. With all financial needs resolved, work isn’t something we have to do, but something we get to do.
Lead Gladly!
It’s the same with our motivation to lead. As the great theologian B. B. Warfield said, “The one antithesis of all the ages is that between the rival formulae: Do this and live, and Live and do this; Do and be saved, and be saved and do”. In Christ we live—therefore we do, and do gladly.
As if that weren’t enough, our dreams and desires to serve God are rewarded for eternity. How amazing is that? We’re rewarded for the accomplishments he enables in the dreams and desires he gives.
How can this help us enjoy leading over the long haul? It sets us free from the need to accomplish great things. We can want it. But we don’t need it. William Carey famously said, “Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God”. Notice he didn’t say, accomplish great things for God. The accept is on expecting and attempting for the sheer joy of God’s glory.
Leader, because of Christ you have received God’s approval as one of his sons. He’s called you to work for the glory of the family name while taking joy in the effort. With unflagging zeal and indomitable determination, you make the attempt. God will accomplish the fruit while you reap the happiness.
Questions
Take a minute to ponder Warfield’s antithesis: “Do this and live; Live and do this.” Which one are you living in today? How would you describe how your pursuit of God impacts your enjoyment of God?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for your great work in Christ to save me from sin, death, and the devil and adopt me as your son. Help me now to live for your glory, not because I need to earn your approval but because you’ve graciously given it. Amen.Photo by Ben White on Unsplash
