Kindness, Patience, and Leadership

In my previous post, I mentioned God's conviction within me about how kindness, patience, and selflessness characterize love (according to I Cor. 13) and that a life of perfect love is the mark of a follower of Jesus. I described how I am attempting to use the definition of love in I Cor. 13 and the fruit of the Spirit in Gal. 5 as a measure of movement to maturity toward this life of love that we are called to live (Eph. 5:1-2).

This conviction is strengthened by a closer look at how God leads us to change. Paul asks the following questions in Romans 2 verse 4: "Or do you despise the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience? Do you not realize that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?" (NRS). Paul seems to be indicating that God's primary mode of operation for bringing change in us that leads to repentance is not through judgment or anger but through kindness and patience. Our story consistently bears witness to this as we are reminded that God is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in love (Ex. 34:6; Num. 14:18; Neh. 9:17; Ps. 86:15, 103:8, 145:8; Joel 2:13; Jonah 4:2; Nahum 1:3).

If with God, leadership takes the form of kindness and patience, what form does our leadership often take? Since Paul defined love as patient and kind (I Cor. 13) and described God's leading us to change through kindness (Rom. 2:4), it is reasonable to equate leadership with love in God's interaction with us. Would you describe your leadership as primarily characterized by loving kindness and patience?

Too often our leadership more resembles control and when we desire others to change it is often characterized by frustration, manipulation, and impatience rather than kindness and patience. This is not God's way of leading through love.

To make this more personal, my own challenge is to lead with kindness and patience in my home. My greatest desire is for love to characterize my interactions with people and for that to be especially true at home. There are times, though, when I find myself frustrated and impatient as I attempt to lead my children. Please forgive me Lord and teach me by Your Spirit to love and lead through kindness and patience. I surrender and empty myself that You may do this in me by Your faithfulness and for Your glory!