We Malaysians had witnessed the downfall of Najib Razak, former prime minister, who had lead Malaysia about 9 years, started well then end with a bad image. When his incompetence finally came collapsing down upon him and he was relieved of his office, there was quite a mess to clean up. The problem was, it wasn't just his incompetence that had to be corrected, he had multiplied himself by appointing ministers who were far less qualified, and hence less of a threat to him in every area (maybe except very few of good-but-suppressed leaders under him). Malaysia government under his leadership had a core incompetence that, like cancer, had infiltrated every department and nearly caused the demise of Malaysia had not newly appointed Prime Minister Tun Mahathir and his more incompetence team intervened. There is hope.
By contrast (though I feel it's a bit unfair), Jesus as the Servant Leader was eager and intent upon calling disciples He felt could replace Him after He returned back to the Father. Jesus promised: "I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father" (John 14:12, NLT). Jesus did not hoard or guard the power of His leadership. He kept teaching, sharing, and demonstrating it so His disciples would learn that they too had the power to do what He had done, “even greater.”
In order for Him to be so generous with His power, Jesus obviously had to have been extremely secure. He repeatedly affirmed and clearly understood His standing with God as the sole Son to the Father – the Son of God. He never doubted that! When it was all over, He would be sitting at the Head Table in His Kingdom. His task while on earth was – even by the work of the Holy Spirit today – to fill that Table and make sure others were sitting with Him. He knows who He is and was secure of His leadership. So, He never stops trained His disciples as His replacements. This is what secure leaders do!
Laurie Beth Jones told a story about Florence Littauer, author of Personality Plus, when she attended one of Florence's seminars and was surprised when she came on stage with about 26 other authors each of whom she had helped to write their own books. "She stood there with all those authors and said, ‘If you think I am proudest of my books, you are wrong. I am most proud of the people I have helped to become writers themselves.' She didn't define her success in terms of her products but in terms of the people she had trained." Had Florence been an insecure author, she might have tried to lessen the competition. But in fact, she was gladly training her replacements.
Jesus trained His replacements.
Have you start training and empower other leaders to replace you?
THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.
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