Issue #117, October 29, 2013
What should servant leaders be, bold or humble? We are called to both as we already observed from Jesus who used whips and washbasins in his leadership. In this issue we will reflect on the life of Joseph who also demonstrated a balance between boldness and humility especially in the area of planning. Joseph, the son of Jacob, lived a privileged life as a young boy and clearly had a dream for a significant future. But after his brothers sold him into slavery, his plans seemed to be crushed until 13 years later when he rose to become the prime minister of Egypt. In that position he led the country through 14 years of economic upheaval that makes any current leadership challenges seem mild! What can we learn from Joseph about bold humility in the area of planning?
Boldness requires a servant leader to strategically dream and plan.
As a 17 year old Joseph had a plan for his life. He boldly shared his vision of leadership with his family. He was out to change the world and expected everyone around him to bow down! His dream was so bold that his father, who loved Joseph as a favorite son, rebuked him. Joseph’s brothers, like so many today, didn’t have a dream and reacted negatively to Joseph’s visionary plan.
For 13 years of slavery and imprisonment, Joseph’s plans seemed to be crushed. But he worked hard and slowly developed the character and skills needed to accomplish his plan. He learned to lead in Potiphar’s household and then in prison. In prison, he learned how to listen to the dreams of others. After interpreting the dream of Pharaoh, Joseph shared with the ruler a comprehensive plan to deal with the pending crisis. It was bold and ambitious; it was clear and concrete. His plan provided details on personnel needed, production goals, warehouse management, record keeping and distribution networks! Pharaoh quickly recognized that he was listening to a bold, visionary strategic planner and rightly appointed him to oversee the country.
Servant leaders are not afraid to dream and plan strategically. They boldly look beyond the present into the future and see possibilities where others only see problems. They dream of a world in which lives are transformed and see their church or their business as a part of that plan. They are willing to stand and declare as Joseph did, “I have a dream.”
Humility enables a servant leader to acknowledge God’s plan.
As a 17 year old Joseph was bold but not yet humble. His dream was about people bowing down to him, not how he would serve them. He correctly saw that he would be in a position of leadership but didn’t yet understand how leaders serve those they lead. By the time he was the prime minister of Egypt he could humbly recognize that God’s plans were far bigger than his own and that what he earlier saw as his dreams were really God’s dreams. God wanted to use Joseph to save his own family and to bring them to Egypt for what would be the next 400 years of God’s story. Joseph worked hard, but at this point was able to say to Pharaoh, “I cannot do it, but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires” (Genesis 41:16). He was able to humbly acknowledge to his brothers that the things they intended for harm were used of God to accomplish the plan.
Servant leaders recognize that God calls them to bold strategic planning, but balanced with deep humility. They must, and will, work hard, but acknowledge that it will take more than human effort and planning to accomplish God’s purposes. Their lives demonstrate Proverbs 16:9, “In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps”.
For further reflection and discussion:
- Consider the following passages from Joseph’s story. In what ways do these passages illustrate Joseph’s ability to plan boldly or his humility as he carries out the plan? (Gen. 37:2-28; 39:1-6, 20-23; 40:1-23; 41:14-37; 45:4-8; 47:13-27; 50:15-21)
- When it comes to planning, do you most naturally lead with boldness or humility? Identify a recent example of how this was evident. When you follow your natural tendency towards boldness or humility, what is the outcome? What needs to change for you to be more balanced?
- What is your dream? Is it big enough to require God’s help to accomplish? Is it focused on your own goals or God’s purposes for your life? Have you allowed the responses of others to keep you from moving forward with boldness in strategic planning?
- In what ways do you walk in humility as you plan strategically? Have you recognized how God’s plans are bigger than yours and how He will use yours to accomplish His? When you work hard, do you acknowledge that your success depends not on your own effort but His blessing?