BY MARK & SHARON IGHILE
The word pathway has several semantic, thematic and structural implications. The most obvious is that of a path and way. For us who are students of the Bible, these lexical items are strikingly relevant. And three scriptures readily come to mind. First is Proverbs 4:18: “The path of the just is as a shinning light that shines more and more unto the perfect day”. The second is in Genesis 24:27: “…I being on the way, God led me”. The third is in Proverbs 14:12: “There is a way that seems right unto a man, but the end thereof is the ways of death”.
Some lessons can be learnt from the Bible verses cited above. For example, while the path or the way is a general tool for everyone and a constituent of a means to an end, what ultimately determines destination is a different matter altogether. Secondly, those who usually receive help from God are those who please him and believe in his ability to render such assistance.
Bringing the above theoretical framework to our present discourse, Leadership Pathway to Greatness, some posers naturally come to the fore: What brand of greatness are we talking about here? Why do some leaders end up small in spite of laborious displays? What price must a leader pay to get the reward of greatness? What eventually takes you to the top even when you have played well your part?
Greatness is a mystery. This is because; a truly great person is made by God. In other words, it is the Lord Almighty who can empower an individual to become wealthy. When God makes someone great, he gives him the enablement to be a blessing to others. (Gen 12: 2). Moreover, it is only God that can bless without strings attached. The Bible says that it is the blessings of the Lord that make rich and add no sorrow (Proverbs 10:22)
While it lies within the purview of God to make one great, there is also the part of responsibility on the side of the individual. Before we consider some of the steps that a student of greatness should take, let us reflect for a moment on the mistakes that leaders make. Understanding such pitfalls and avoiding them are great strides in wisdom. They range from indiscipline, character-crisis, competitive spirit, impatience to disorderliness, covetousness and plastic immorality.
The leader who wants to be great must follow the manual of the Master. In the college of greatness, only the obedient, focused, hardworking, spirit-filled, prayerful and faithful ones get to the top. You don’t do it as you feel; you do it as it is instructed. Those who do not have goals never score any in the affairs of life. Hard work does not kill, it only refines. All the covenant fathers in the Bible were hard workers, who will you resemble, being pathologically lazy? Even Jesus is a master example in this regard (John 9:4).
At the zenith of greatness- propellers is grace. And the reason for this is not far to seek. It is not your strength that does it, neither is it your skill. It is God. It is grace that lubricates your efforts and turns them into outstanding success. It is grace that makes the results of a day’s labour supersede that of a decade. It is grace that makes you glow in glory instead of being a professional story-teller. It is grace that makes the difference.
This May 2013 summit is specially packaged for a strategic flight to a new phase, via the instrumentality of grace. This summit, which is symbolic of our five years in ministry, is grace-laden. Where grace operates, disgrace is permanently damaged. Where grace speaks, favour swings into action. As you celebrate with us God’s faithfulness in our training, manpower development and publishing ministry, otherwise known as Scripture Communication Network & Strategic Leadership Academy, may you receive grace this season for a sustainable destination in greatness.
See you on TOP.
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