Water is a powerful force of nature. When bodies of water are in in motion, they have they ability to take objects of all sizes from one place to the next. The larger the stream of water, all the larger the movable objects.
There are places throughout the world known as flood plains. Rivers wind through these plains and undergo seasonal flooding. When the rain falls on the river and the water level raises, elements and minerals that are lying in the riverbed are stirred up and the boundaries of the river expand to the outer lying land.
This process fertilizes the flood plain by providing these minerals from the riverbed prompting flood plains some of the most fertile soils in the world. These minerals can only be deposited into the soil when the river floods.
The essence of leadership can be found here;
Leaders move people from where they are, to a place where they can reach their full potential.
King David is one of the most prominent leaders in the Old Testament. Somewhat early in his leadership God blessed David with supplies and workers to build his palace. When this happened, David realized his purpose from God.
“King Hiram of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar logs, stonemasons, and carpenters to build a palace for him. David realized that the LORD had established him as king over Israel and that he had elevated his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.”
1 Chronicles 14:1-2 NET
David realized this, that God had elevated David’s kingdom not for himself, but for the sake of the people of Israel.
When God blesses and advances someone; He doesn’t do this so that they can elevate themselves. He does it so that they can bring others up.
Leaders propel others forward. Leadership is a river. Just as the rivers in the flood plains rise above their normal boundaries and fertilize the area around them, you have the ability to enhance and advance the lives of those around you.
Your current level of leadership can be evaluated when you ask, “How many people’s lives am I personally positively impacting?”
Your level of leadership cannot grow unless you are helping others grow.
Heavy rain doesn’t fall daily in the flood plains. This rain is an anticipated, forecasted, seasonal event. Neither will a leader’s river of leadership receive heavy rain every single day. Nevertheless, there are still opportunities to grow everyday and some opportunities will have a greater impact than others.
Having this awareness will empower you to be prepared for every opportunity so that when it comes you and others will grow. Growing your leadership means watching the radar for any and all possibilities to impact and propel the lives of those around you. You create the rain when you begin to empower the people that you once overlooked. Many times these are the people that are closest to us.
John Maxwell says “Leadership is influence, nothing more, nothing less.” Your level of influence as a leader can be compared to the water level of a river. A small stream of water can’t move a large object. The same can be said for a leader; a leader needs to move a few people forward before they can move many.
Before the rivers of the floodplain can fertilize the surrounding area, the river needs rain. Rain falling on the river is the equivalent of your experience and faithfulness pouring into your leadership. Before David built a palace, he slayed Goliath. Before he slayed Goliath, he tended sheep.
Being faithful in your leadership where you are is the key to becoming the leader you were made to be.
– Tyler Moore
Tyler is a Small Group Coach Director at a church in Soutwest, OH. You can follow him on Instagram
