Leaders: What Are We Becoming?

I am learning these days on the difference between doing and becoming. Doing relates to activity and becoming pertains to attitude.

Our tendency is more inclined towards busyness with activities than burgeoning in attitude. We like performance in ministry than perseverance in character. We measure our success by external accomplishments than by internal growth in godly qualities (2 Pet. 1:5-8). Even our friendly conversations are centered mostly on what we are doing than on what we are becoming.

Greatest Temptation

In the sight of the holy and loving God, what I am becoming is more important than what I am doing. In fact, what I am doing should birth from what I am becoming. 

Sadly, the terrifying fact in leadership is this—the ministry can thrive while my personal growth in Christ-likeness can remain stagnant. Is this not a conspicuous fact of many leaders today? How many of us look beautiful, spreading fragrance from afar, until somebody draws closer to us only to discover the ugliness and stench of our inner life!

Here lies the problem: The greatest temptation of a leader is to focus more on doing than on what he is becoming every day. The Scripture testifies that God has predestined His chosen ones to be conformed to the likeness of Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:29). But I am tempted to just get immersed in my service for Christ and neglect to work on my attitude to become more like Christ.  

Serving Christ by Following Him

Our Lord made His deal obvious, “Whoever serves me must follow me” (Jn. 12:26). In other words, “Whoever serves me must become like me; whoever is engaged in my service should be conformed to my image; whoever is my witness must also be my likeness. You cannot serve me without following me.”

O, in our zeal to serve our Lord, how often are we tempted to neglect becoming like Him! There is a temptation to think—doing is more pleasing to God than becoming. But is it not written, "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams”? (1 Sam. 15:22)

I think, this is what the Lord may be saying to the leaders of our generation—“What you are becoming on the inside is more precious and pleasing to Me than what you are accomplishing on the outside. Let what you are doing for me flourish from what you becoming in me.”

What Am I Becoming? 

So, the challenge to me is—along with my passion to let my ministry grow, which is indeed a noble desire and work, am I growing in my inner man, becoming more in Christ-likeness? Am I becoming a better husband, a better father, a better neighbour, a better worker, a better friend...etc? Am I growing in love, compassion, humility and gentleness? Am I growing in the fear and holiness of God? In short, am I becoming more like Christ?
 
Let us pray we would overcome this temptation of staying just focused on doing. Let us make sure that what we are doing should emerge from what we are becoming. As we evaluate the growth of what we are doing, let us also evaluate the growth of what we are becoming. Let us establish accountability with our dear ones where we question one another in love about the hidden inner man.

Remember, do not let our doing bypass our becoming.

At last, I want to conclude with these words – The growth of my ministry may be dependent on my doing, but the sustenance of that growth is dependent on what I am becoming. Is not the growth of tree dependent on the strength of its roots?

Prayer

Father, help us to become more like Christ and let our service come out of our wholehearted devotion to Christ and our obedience to Him. Amen.

Related Articles:

• Hear O Servants of God
• Admitting Flaws: An Essential Quality of an Authentic Christian Leader
• Leadership: Hidden Vices Behind the Virtuous Screen
  
  
  _______________________________

Enquiries:

cstephendavid@gmail.com (or) stephen@tents-india.org