Ron Harris

I know…you have followers on Facebook, X, and Instagram. That’s not what I’m talking about. Let me put it another way. Who are you mentoring? Is there someone you are leading and guiding in a way that is growing them to be the godly man or woman the Lord needs?

Sometimes, the word “mentoring” puts leaders off. They think, “I don’t have time to sit down with someone every week or even every month to lead and guide them.” I understand. If you are in leadership, you are busy. Your plate is full. While regular meetings with a person whom God puts on your heart is a valuable way to mentor someone, there are other ways.

I think back to the people who mentored me. Rarely was it a formal time. Often, it was a word spoken at just the right time…a word to offer correction or instruction at a critical point. One of my mentors would often say, “Ron, have you thought that through completely?” Those words, spoken gently, helped guide me to better thinking and better decisions.

I like how leadership guru John Maxwell explains a mentor.

“A mentor is someone who teaches, guides and lifts you up by virtue of his or her experience and insight. They’re usually someone a little farther ahead of you on the path—though that doesn’t always mean they’re older! A mentor is someone with a head full of experience and a heart full of generosity that brings those things together in your life.”

If you don’t have a mentor, seek one out. Is there a person in your area of leadership who is successful and has the same heart as you? Connect with them. Meet with them. Learn from them. Most will be honored to help you grow.

And if you aren’t actively mentoring someone, look for someone whom you can help develop using simple words of wisdom that the Lord has given you through your experiences and your life.

We are familiar with the words of Solomon:

As iron sharpens iron,
so a friend sharpens a friend.

Proverbs 27:17 NLT

That’s mentoring. Paul did it with his young friend Timothy. He instructed his protégé to follow in his footsteps and pass on what he had learned from Paul.

You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others.

2 Timothy 2:2 NLT

We often think of mentoring in the leadership realm. It is clear from God’s Word that we need spiritual mentors to shape us into the man or woman the Lord intends us to be. The writer of Hebrews gave this instruction:

Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and follow the example of their faith.

Hebrews 13:7 NLT

So, who is following you? Who are you actively guiding? God will honor both of you for the valuable time you spend pouring the Lord’s wisdom into their lives.

God’s best,

You’ve probably heard that phrase before. It is a reminder that those who lead often find it difficult to share everything about the organization or ministry with the rest of the staff. When key decisions are being weighed, the leader can feel all alone, and the weight of leadership adds pressure.

Business and ministry mentor Fred Smith had instructional words for those at the top. He talks about the need for leaders to develop their teams to help so the leader isn’t overwhelmed.

“In any well-run organization, multiple layers of leadership must exist. There must be top management and a strong level of developing men and women. An organization cannot thrive (or even survive) without bench strength. Moses gives us another example as he asked others to hold up his arms as he prayed for the people. He was not strong enough to sustain the physical strain. Anyone who tries to accomplish as a solo act will eventually fail.”

There is a reward in developing the team so they can take some of the load. Fred Smith says:

“When one leads as part of an effective team, it gives opportunity to share accomplishment. How satisfying it is to say to everyone, ‘Well done – we worked hard and got it done. We did it together.’”

An oft-quoted proverb underscores the importance of learning to work together and to delegate:

“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”

Peter wrote to those early Christ-followers and reminded them of the importance of being like-minded.

Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude.

1 Peter 3:8 NLT

Automobile legend Henry Ford created the car assembly line, which required teamwork to accomplish its goal. Ford said:

“Coming together is the beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.”

Does teamwork eliminate the feeling of loneliness? Not fully, but it is a help. It takes a lot for the leader to remain at the top and for his team to be successful. Again, Fred Smith shared his wisdom:

“Leadership is more than personality; it is character.”

Stay the course. And let the Lord’s character in you strengthen you and your team… for His glory.

God’s best,

Can you imagine a highly successful business today without a website? Unthinkable. Yet my friend Raymond Harris who grew one of the most successful architectural firms in the United States did just that. No, that wasn’t the reason for the company’s success. It was an illustration of the philosophy Raymond embraced that served him and his company for decades. And it is a philosophy that can help us honor our Lord as we serve Him and others.

In his insightful book, Business by Design: Applying God’s Wisdom for True Success, Harris discusses humility as a crucial character trait for those seeking to reflect God’s nature and serve effectively. He references Jesus’ well-known parable about the guests at a banquet, found in Luke 14:7-11. The Lord observed that all the dinner guests were vying for the best seats near the head of the table. That must have been quite a scene. Jesus transformed it into a teachable moment, instructing the guests that it is better to take a lower place and embody humility. If you try to claim a seat of honor, someone more important may arrive, and you will feel embarrassed as you are forced to move to a less desirable position at the table. The lesson is clear.

For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

Luke 14: 11 NLT

This principle holds true for our businesses and ministries as well as for us as individuals on the team. Remaining humble in our spirit and in our actions allows the Lord to lift us up as He sees fit to do…for His purpose, not for our ego.

Raymond Harris also reminds us of Jesus’ teaching on this idea of being great in God’s Kingdom. Jesus said we need to be humble like little children. And this can be seen in these traits:

• Teachable
• Faithful
• Obedient
• Dependent
• Vulnerable
• Innocent to worldly ways
• Quiet before elders or authorities
• Hopefully optimistic

What would it be like if your ministry or business were filled with people who had these traits? What would it be like if those of us who are in leadership positions would also exhibit these characteristics? Remember, Jesus said He came to serve. He did not glorify Himself but let God do so. On more than one occasion, God’s voice could be heard saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

And what about not having a website? Raymond Harris writes that he wanted to guard against losing that sense of humility by advertising how great his company was. To that end, he built an amazingly successful company without even having a presence on the Internet or advertising in architectural or business magazines. He let the company’s actions do the job.

Now, the point of this message isn’t about websites or advertising. It is about the spirit of the heart as we serve our Lord and serve others. The world pushes us to demand our lofty place at the table. The Lord tells us to humble ourselves, and He will lift us up in due time, on His timetable, for His purpose and His glory.

No, don’t go zapping your website, and then proudly announce what you have done. That would be like telling everyone how humble you are. Just live before those around you- your staff, your volunteers, your family, your friends- in a way that shows the humility of your heart.

God’s best,

I was at a Christian broadcaster’s conference some years ago when the speaker said, “Are you hearing from God yourself, or are you letting someone else tell you what God says?” That question had a piercing effect on many of us. We were playing teaching programs on our radio stations from top Christian communicators. Were we content to just let these teachers and preachers inform us of what the Lord was saying? Or did we bring ourselves into God’s presence to hear from Him directly?

That question harkens back to the times when Moses, as he led the children of Israel through the wilderness, would go up on the mountain and commune with the Lord personally. The Bible says they talked to each other as friend to friend. Amazing.

When Moses would come down, the people would let Moses pass on the message. They didn’t have the same relationship with Almighty God as their leader did.

And they said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen. But don’t let God speak directly to us, or we will die!”

Exodus 20:19 NLT

Oswald Chambers talked about that in the devotional My Utmost for His Highest, Chambers says:

“We do not consciously disobey God, we simply do not heed Him. God has given us His commands; there they are, but we do not pay any attention to them, not because of wilful disobedience but because we do not love and respect Him. ‘If ye love Me, ye will keep My commandments’”

Then Chambers added:

“We show how little we love God by preferring to listen to His servants only. We like to listen to personal testimonies, but we do not desire that God Himself should speak to us.”

I love listening to my Pastor. I appreciate Christian broadcasters and authors. Do I balance that with personal time in God’s presence, seeking a direct word from the Lord for my life? We know from the often-quoted verse in Jeremiah 29 that the Lord has a plan for us. Doesn’t it follow that He would want to share that plan with us? It probably won’t be revealed by a radio message or in a book by a Christian author. Not directly. Not personally.

There is a tendency to make a “word from God” heard through a third party something of an option. We say, “Great word. Let me consider that.” If we hear directly from the Lord, our only good response is, “Yes, Lord.”

In an article on Crosswalk.com about hearing from God, the author gives several points to help us do that regularly.

Recognize that God has created you for a close friendship with Himself.

By design, the way you hear best from God is in the context of a friendship with Him… God’s will is to be personally present with you and speaking with you moment by moment as you go through life. Then you’ll grow to understand Him more and become more like His Son, Jesus.

Make your goal more than just hearing God.

While it’s important to hear from God, that shouldn’t be your ultimate goal. Instead, make your main goal to become a spiritually mature person in a close relationship with God. That’s the only way you’ll clearly and correctly hear what God has to say to you.

Recognize God’s voice above all others.

By experience, you can learn to recognize God’s voice when He speaks, and to confidently respond to what He says.

Set aside time regularly to listen for God’s messages.

Make a habit of intentionally and expectantly listening for whatever God may want to tell you. It’s more important to become a person who listens regularly to God than it is to constantly ask God to give you guidance.

Are you willing to go into God’s presence and hear from Him directly? If so, be prepared to say to Him, “Yes, Lord.”

God’s best,

Our reputation…our legacy…our character…our actions. These are critical elements of who we are as Christians and as leaders.

It only takes a momentary lapse in judgement, ignoring God’s Spirit who wants to direct our actions in the right way, for our reputation to be shattered. And that action can tarnish the legacy we hope to leave behind. In recent years, we have learned of key ministry leaders who have given in to secret sins that later in their journey became known. Their ministries, their lives, and their legacies have taken a hit that reverberates through the people around them.

I’m reminded of Solomon’s wise admonition:

Guard your heart above all else,

for it determines the course of your life.

Proverbs 4:23 NLT

Henry Blackaby’s life and legacy impacted my life. Over the years, he was a spiritual mentor to me, and Dr. Blackaby became my friend. Yet his son, Richard, has indicated that his dad was not perfect. Writing about his father on the occasion of Henry Blackaby’s death, Richard revealed this about the one who influenced millions for Christ:

“Dad wasn’t perfect. While I mean no disrespect toward my father after his recent passing, the truth is that he was a frail creature of clay with plenty of shortcomings. For me, these faults make his life and legacy all the more remarkable.”

The shortcomings Richard detailed were minor, to be sure, but the point was made. Even a great man like Henry Blackaby was not perfect.

Richard went on to say:

“Dad had an eye on legacy. I don’t mean he sought fame or recognition. Dad wanted to leave a legacy of children and grandchildren who loved and served his God as fervently as he had.”

Are there things in your life you wish you could erase? It may be something relatively small that no one knows about. Or it may be something in your past that lingers in your mind and distracts you from serving the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. It may even be something that you think could disqualify you from being the man or woman God has called you to be.

Not so.

My friend Sheila Walsh has a wonderful ministry as a speaker, author, singer, and spiritual mentor to many. Yet there are things in her past that could challenge her as she serves. I recently heard Sheila voice a profound truth.

“Your life is not defined by the last thing you have done. It is defined by the last thing Jesus did.”

Because of Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross, His Word can remind us:

…if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

1 John 1:9 NLT

Our reputation…legacy…character…actions. You can draw a line today and move forward in ministry and life, no matter what may linger in your past. Your life is defined by what Jesus did. You can build your life on that truth starting right now.

God’s best,

Our lives get cluttered, don’t they? If you have children, you may have to figure out all the sports schedules and get those kids to practice and be there for the games. That alone can be challenging. In ministry and business, we have our priorities for moving forward with the mechanics of the organization. Those To-Do lists can become long, and it’s not always easy to prioritize everything that makes it to the list. And that doesn’t include interruptions and “important” things that always seem to pop up.

I don’t know if the Apostle Paul had a To-Do list. If so, I’m sure it was a long scroll with lots of items. Reading Acts 20 gives us a sense of how busy he was, visiting believers in various cities and encouraging his friends. He didn’t have the luxury of modern-day travel, which no doubt added to the challenge of getting things done.

That’s why it stands out in verse 24 when he declared that of all the things he had before him. There was only one item on his list that was of ultimate importance.

… my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.

Acts 20:24 NLT

Eugene Peterson’s paraphrase of that passage shows that Paul felt a personal calling, not just to ministries or churches, but to tell everyone that passed his way about the love and grace of his Lord Jesus.

What matters most to me is to finish what God started: the job the Master Jesus gave me of letting everyone I meet know all about this incredibly extravagant generosity of God.

Acts 20:24 MSG

Just a few chapters earlier, we read the account of Paul in Athens. He was invited to speak to the intellectuals of Athens and did not miss the opportunity to check off an item on his To-Do list. Again, The Message puts the speech in today’s terms.

When I arrived here the other day, I was fascinated with all the shrines I came across. And then I found one inscribed, TO THE GOD NOBODY KNOWS. I’m here to introduce you to this God so you can worship intelligently, know who you’re dealing with.

Acts 17:23 MSG

I have a feeling Paul didn’t get around to all the things on his list. Yet again and again, he focused on the top thing for him…sharing God’s truth His hope for everyone, Jesus.

All those things on your To-Do list today are not unimportant. But if the Lord called you home today, would you have done that number one, most important thing?

I’m thinking through my “list” of things to do.

God’s best,

As you look around at other leaders you know, are there some you would identify as high performers? It seems some consistently get things done, and those key things are usually done well. Are you one of those people?

I was intrigued by an article I recently read by a leadership coach in the Netherlands. The article outlined the signs of a high performer, and you may be surprised by some of those traits.

• You enjoy learning – you are naturally curious.
• You love to simplify explanations – you make learning accessible and engaging.
• You are happy not following the herd – you don’t mind going against popular opinions.
• You are okay not knowing everything – you view gaps in knowledge as opportunities.
• You prioritize quality over quantity – you value excellence over speed or volume.
• You stay calm under pressure – you are confident even in the most chaotic moments.
• You lift others up – you believe in shared success.

Can you identify with those traits and leadership qualities? The brilliant Albert Einstein is quoted as saying, “Wisdom is not a product of schooling but of the lifelong attempt to acquire it.” And the legendary U. S. basketball coach, John Wooden, motivated his players with these words:

“It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts.”

The last point on that list is critical. Encourage others. Lift them up. It is amazing what a word of encouragement means to your team, both personally and for accomplishing God’s plan in your ministry and organization. The Apostle Paul recognized and praised that trait in the believers in Thessalonica:

So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 NLT

If you identify with traits like these, what does it mean? It means the Lord has built into you the qualities that will help you lead others to accomplish His will, and do it His way.

This may be a good time to say it is more important to recognize how God has made you than it is to look at others and compare yourself or your accomplishments. Certainly, it is not productive to rank yourself against others and what they accomplish. When Paul recognized some in Corinth who were bragging about “their” abilities, he not so gently reminded them of an important point in our spiritual lives.

What do you have that God hasn’t given you? And if everything you have is from God, why boast as though it were not a gift?

1 Corinthians 4:7 NLT

Yes, we all can improve our abilities to the glory of God. And we can learn how to better serve Him with what we have. Let’s be careful to recognize three things:

• Anything and everything we have…skills, personal qualities, wisdom…is a gift from God
• Any position we attain in ministry is by God’s grace and His design.
• The Lord intends us to use all He has placed in our hands for His purpose, to point others to Jesus.

That’s a purpose worth working toward every day in every way.

God’s best,

You probably have a drawer like I do at our house. Most folks do. Some simply call it a junk drawer. Yet we don’t want to throw the stuff in that drawer out.

Ours has clips for bags of chips. It has those little twisty ties that come on bread and other packages. And, among a few other things, it has rubber bands. Several of them.

Leadership expert John Maxwell made an interesting observation about rubber bands. He pointed out that these little rubber items are useless unless they are stretched. That makes sense. We grab one of those little bands and wrap it around something that needs to come together—to close off something or to gather groups of things like pencils, pens, or other rubber bands.

Maxwell’s point is this. As leaders, we are called to action when things need to get done. Leaders are often stretched in the process of bringing different people together and in the process of getting closure to sticky problems.

Leaders generally face these kinds of problems. Christian leaders have a resource others don’t have. We find a clue in God’s Word.

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.

Philippians 4:6 NLT

As leaders, there are lots of good ideas for how to deal with the challenges. The Lord supplies His followers with God’s ideas.

In fact, the Bible implores us to move away from our human thinking and put our complete trust in the Lord for every area of our lives and our leadership.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take.

Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT

Stretched. Yes. Sometimes to the point where we think we may break. But that should not make us reluctant to lead. Remember the rubber band. It is of little use unless it is stretched. God’s Word repeatedly gives us both direction and comfort for those who serve Him. Consider these passages:

Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

1 Peter 5:7 ESV

For nothing will be impossible with God.

Luke 1:37 ESV

In another era, a new leader no doubt felt stretched. Joshua was following a great leader who was noted as a friend of God. It would have been easy to feel overwhelmed. However, the Lord had a direct command for Joshua that can serve us today, too.

…be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

Joshua 1:9 NLT

Have you been stretched recently? Remember, the challenges you face are what you are called to face. God is not surprised by these challenges. And He has provided wisdom and strength to face them. Under the direction of the Holy Spirit, Paul wrote:

We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair.

2 Corinthians 4:8 NLT

So, as John Maxwell said, realize that, like those rubber bands in that junk drawer, being stretched is what you are designed to do, for God’s purpose and for your good.

God’s best,

I’m in my late 70s, and I’m still learning and figuring things out. Better late than never.

As a kid, I remember asking my dad about a deep scratch or bruise on his arm. “Where did that come from?” Dad would simply reply, “I don’t know.” I couldn’t believe it! How could you scratch your arm or run into something and not remember the incident? That was beyond my comprehension as a young boy.

I’m beginning to understand. While getting dressed recently, I noticed a couple of scratches on one leg and a bruise on the other. I have no idea where they came from. I flashed back to my time with Dad and understood he was teaching me without lecturing me. Without specific words, Dad said, “It doesn’t matter. It’s not worth worrying about or spending time thinking about.”

I’m finding a lot of applications for that lesson beyond scratches or bruises. There are many things that happen in life that we sometimes spend way too much time thinking about…or obsessing over. We try to find the cause of this little thing or the reason for that little thing. Or we assign some sort of spiritual application to it as a way of explaining it. Flip Wilson was an American comedian famous for saying, “The Devil made me do it.” Pardon the pun, but that was his “flip” answer for why some things happened.

As a leader, you encounter many things each day that could command your attention at home or at your office or ministry. And many of those things won’t matter. Don’t waste valuable time on trivial things that can detract from the important things of your ministry, your work, your family, or your life.

The Apostle Paul often encourages us to focus on the important. After admitting to the Philippian Christ-followers that he didn’t fully comprehend everything, Paul said this:

…but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

Philippians 3:13-14 NLT

My translation of that is, “Quit worrying about the little things or the past things. You’re probably not going to figure them all out, anyway. Look forward. See the goal God has set before you…and press on to that. There is a greater reward than figuring out…where that little scratch came from.”

God’s best,