The mud-puddle of pride has affected too many leaders as evidenced by the lonely walk of leadership and the broken lives laying along side the path of selfish living. In this podcast, Lance shares the qualities of pride and humility, and offers some suggestions on how we can clothe ourselves in humility one toward another.

Notes:

What do I mean by leadership?

• Within the Gateway context, leadership is developing culture and people through relationship, with integrity.

• John Maxwell calls leadership as “influence.”

• Jim Collins quotes, “Leadership only exists if people follow when they would otherwise have the freedom to not follow.”

I’d love for you to leave a comment below about how pride has affected your life. I believe we can learn from each other and be encouraged.

Matthew 23:11-12, “The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

Proverbs 16:18, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”

John Stott, “Pride is the greatest enemy and humility our greatest friend.”

The Poisonous Effects of Pride:

1. It’s masked behind good intentions, a value for excellence and productivity (getting things done!) — when expressed through a charismatic leader, the productivity and adrenaline is attractive, but underneath it is a toxic poison.

2. Pride looks for followers.

3. Pride is only teachable if it serves self.

4. Pride is a justifying shape-sifter, doing whatever it takes to remain alive and active.

5. Pride serves only what’s best for self. (A vision only if it benefits me. Motivated by self-satisfaction).

6. Pride is fed by feelings of superiority.

7. Pride justifies mistakes by making excuses, blaming others, and avoiding responsibility.

8. Pride only receives to benefit self. (No gratitude)

9. Pride can’t experience empathy.

10. Pride is an attitude of the orphan heart.

11. Pride doesn’t give the benefit the doubt to others.

12. Pride wants to be right at the expense of another brother or sister.

The Beauty of Humility:

1. Humility is confident in its own skin and trusts that Christ’s power will be made manifest through weakness and fragile earthen vessels of clay.

2. Humility points people to be followers of Jesus.

3. Humility is an example of learning without adopting self-gratifying followers.

4. Humility is teachable because learning benefits others, and as a bonus adds enrichment to my life.

5. Humility experiences death daily. It’s a death to a knowledge that puffs up, building a platform for self, a death to carnal pleasures that violate covenant and connection with Christ and those we love.

6. Humility serves the vision of another without complaint, maintains an assertive heart and establishes healthy boundaries.

7. Humility is fed by feelings of empowering others, glorifying Jesus and creating safety for others to take risks.

8. Humility accepts responsibility while holding others accountable for their commitments.

9. Humility receives from others as an expression of love and kindness.

10. Humility can feel what others feel and understand what others understand.

11. Humility is the attitude of an adopted son/daughter heart.

12. Humility gives others the benefit of doubt without judgement.

13. Humility wants truth and relational connection and will work hard to find both.

14. Humility is teachable so it can better serve others and as a bonus, feel fulfilled in growing and learning.

How do we clothe ourselves in humility?

1. Clothing of Meditation

2. Clothing of Attitude

3. Clothing of Service

4. Clothing of Feedback

5. Clothing of Family

6. Clothing of Why

Resources: Mistake Leaders Make by Dave Kraft

Credits: Music - Pumpkin Spice by Audiobinger -- freemusicarchive.org