“We can say with confidence and a clear conscience that we have lived with a God-given holiness and sincerity in all our dealings. We have depended on God’s grace, not on our own human wisdom. That is how we have conducted ourselves before the world, and especially toward you. Our letters have been straightforward, and there is nothing written between the lines and nothing you can’t understand. I hope someday you will fully understand us, even if you don’t understand us now. Then on the day when the Lord Jesus returns, you will be proud of us in the same way we are proud of you.”
2 Corinthians 1:12-14 NLT
Not everything that is taught is caught, not all motives and understanding are known and received here in our bent and broken world. Have you ever seen light bend? It can and you’ve seen it often in a rainbow. Just like the perception that light is bending, so it is with our understanding of many things we experience while in this fractured world.
Paul makes a clear leadership truth that is hard to accept – not everyone gets you! There are critics, doubters and outright resisters towards your message, your ideas, and your way of thinking. In fact, you may only find the Pareto principle effect with those who “get” you – that’s only 20% on a good day. Paul makes a declaration that is hard for those who like to be liked and want to know that everyone’s on board with every idea that bubble-cloud’s out of our head.
His confidence and clear conscience is before God. Ah, the audience of ONE! Only one to make happy, to be true to, be absolutely 100% straight with – only God. What freedom from public critics and persecution when there is only one to please and one to receive your confidence from.
And, this “God-given” holiness and sincerity is not PRIDE-PUFFED, it’s in complete humility of receiving grace and not depending on our own wisdom. Then, Paul writes, then there will be a “pride-swap” or boasting when Jesus returns. Because it will be about our listening, our obedience and not our own leadership smarts.
A leadership tip I picked up in my forties, “NEVER believe your own press!” Paul told the churches in Rome and Corinth, “pride and knowledge PUFFS up…but love BUILDS up.”
PRAYER:
Dad,
No wonder discouragement runs so closely parallel with leadership! When my focus is not only pleasing people but relying on their feedback of performance, it is a spiraling trap. But when I focus on pleasing you and being responsible for obedience to your call I feel faith rise and encouragement. I so often feel buried by the complications of all the layers of leading. It’s not just the minutia, it’s the multitasked flow of demand of attention, deep thought and the appearance of quick decisions. None of that comes easy to me. I live with the critic in my head that says I’m really bad at multitasking and multiple demands at once! I needed Paul words today to remind me of the audience of one – you!