This Little Light of Mine

• Proverbs 21:4 NLV Eyes lifted high and a proud heart is sin and is the lamp of the sinful.      

The lamp theme that we explored in Proverbs 20:27 is contrasted here in today's verse. It's the natural inverse of the Heavenly lamps that sheds light on our conscience: this lamp is the lack of humility and darkness of pride that is only focused on preening pride.

In John Kotter's 1990 article What Leaders Really Do he observed that:  "Well-led businesses tend to recognize and reward people who successfully develop leaders." I would posit that developing leaders is not the result of "proud hearts" and "haughty eyes" (the NIV rendering of the first phrase). Developing and nurturing others to lead takes, at least, an attitude that they can have something to offer, too.

The burning question is, "Why would anyone want to be led by you?" That question and "What business are you really in? have fueled the longest, deepest and hardest discussions in my consulting career.

In fact, I discovered that Goffee and Jones had asked this very question in a ten-year study and the results published in the Sept-Oct 2000 HBR,
“Why Should Anyone Be Lead by You?” They discovered four "unexpected" traits of "inspirational" leaders and the first is that these kinds of leaders "reveal their weaknesses." Proud people would shun away from that kind of leading. Their only "light" for their path is themselves. No one else can do it better, think in through better or explain it better. It is all about them. As Coffee and Jones point out, people who try to communicate that "there will be no need for anyone to help them with anything.... signal that they can do it themselves." That is not leading: preening, maybe. Leading no! Vision is needed. Sense of command is important. Passion. Strategic thinking vital. But as important as these traits are to leaders, they will fail to lead if they try to from a position of pride.

No matter where we are and no matter what we do, we lead. As parents, as team members, as friends, each offers an opportunity to lead. Leading -or just plain living - can best be accomplished with a light that clearly illuminates the path. Those who choose self are limited in their light. Those who chose God, as revealed in Christ, have the "light of the world." A light that shines so brightly that man, in his natural state cannot look at it. This light attracts. This light divides. This light, when shining through us, illuminates all you fall under its beams.

What is your light source?


Copyright (c) 2005 by P. Griffith Lindell