Kings & Leaders
By Lexi Ellis
“So speak
encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you’ll all be together in
this, no one left out, no one left behind…”
I recently started watching a documentary on the English monarchy. The first kings' reigns were laughable in comparison to the extensive previous Roman Empire. These kings had one thing in common...each leader couldn't maintain control for very long. Alfred the Great, King of Wesex, (849-899) changed this. [1]
Inheriting a kingdom on the cusp of continual invasion from the Vikings, this brilliant general recognized there was a necessary and imperative ingredient to victory: investing in others' leadership. The result? While all other Anglo-Saxon kingdoms had fallen to the Vikings in 870, "Wessex alone was still resisting." [2]
Alfred did this by allowing other, smaller leaders to keep their "positions of authority in their localities." [2] Unlike other kings in the 800’s, Alfred the Great realized you can't have your army filled with men who had just had their authority stripped away...and expect them to fight to the death for your name.
Isn't that true in the spheres of our lives where we lead? There are ways I lead in my home, in my job and in ministry. The question becomes: Am I great at investing in others’ leadership? As a wife, do I invest in my husband’s strengths and encourage ways for him to lead? As parents, do we correct when necessary, but also allow for leadership opportunities for our kids? As a teacher, am I modeling the type of leader I want my students to be? As a ministry leader, do others’ natural leadership strengths intimidate me, or do I encourage and invest in these abilities?
Jesus is the example of leading others and launching their strengths with opportunities to lead. He spent three years with His disciples, training and equipping them so that eventually they could to go on their own in the Spirit’s power. But while still on earth, Christ also sent the disciples out in pairs in Mark 6 and sent an even larger group out in Luke 10... giving His followers opportunities and training to be leaders even before He returned to heaven.
Albert the Great knew in order to be successful, he had to allow his troops to lead in their own spheres. Based on the example of Jesus, may we continually look for ways to encourage our spouses, children, and those we lead at work and in ministry to tap into their strengths and to lead, as well.
GOING DEEPER:
1. Think of those you have been entrusted to lead.
2. How do you give appropriate
opportunities to showcase others’ strengths or to lead in smaller ways?
FURTHER READING:
Lexi’s family
consists of her, her husband, Andrew, her daughter, Sloane, and her dog,
Calvin. She teaches sixth grade Reading and Writing and serves with Children’s
Ministries.
[1] “Monarchy,” 2004. David Starkey. Series 1, Episode 1: “A
Nation State.”
