When you walk with God you are willing to sacrifice. That shiny new purple bike with streamers and an unusual frame is less attractive to you when you are being offered a fantastic Jeep Wrangler or high-end sports car. God is offering us so much more than these little baubles that we are constantly lusting after. Even that sports car pales in comparison to the impact on the world that the spiritual leader imparts. While rare there still are still men and women of God that can change the world. We look at people of history and we might debate their salvation or their spiritual walk, but we cannot undervalue their impact on the world. When we walk with the King, things change. Communities discover resources they did not realize they had. Hope blooms when the spiritual leader leads.
When the godly are in authority, the people rejoice. But when the wicked are in power, they groan. Proverbs 29:2
This leadership is not based on a position. The spiritual leader must rise up and lead from wherever they are. Samson was called upon to lead in the midst of a crisis. He did not stop and say, “Ok, come back in 20 minutes, I need to go get my battle gear.” Samson had no elected position. God had wired him to lead. He looked around and all he could find to fight with was the jawbone of a donkey. I imagine there was a moment that he considered other items in the area. I will admit that animal bones will unlikely be my first choice when it comes to taking on the enemy. It would be more glamorous and make for better social media for me to come in with shiny weapons and armor. Even grabbing the bone would have been a violation of his Nazarite vow. But in the midst of a crisis, he chose to sacrifice his own vow. He chose to use the simple things to take on these trained warriors coming at him. Filled with the Holy Spirit the humblest tools can be used to bring Him glory.
Spiritual leaders, we must sacrifice our own glory if we want to achieve lasting greatness. Too often our ego will tear us down and get us dismissed from service to the King. Daily I repeat the statement of John the Baptist, “I must decrease so that He can increase.” When I stay by the side of the King, victory is already accomplished. If I try to do these things on my own, destruction either in the short term or long term is guaranteed. I sacrifice my temporary glory for an eternal outlook.