- Phil 2:3 (AMP) Do nothing from factional motives [through contentiousness, strife, selfishness, or for unworthy ends] or prompted by conceit and empty arrogance. Instead, in the true spirit of humility (lowliness of mind) let each regard the others as better than and superior to himself [thinking more highly of one another than you do of yourselves].
One dictionary tell us that pride is, “A sense of one's own proper dignity or value; self-respect….or…Arrogant or disdainful conduct or treatment; haughtiness….even…An excessively high opinion of oneself; conceit.” Confidence on the other hand is, “Trust or faith in a person or thing…. A feeling of assurance, especially of self-assurance.” The Hebrew uses the expression "eye of loftiness" (c.f.) Ps 131:1 to describe a "proud look" - a look all of us have not doubt seen. Sometimes it's a glance. A smirk. A roll of the eyes. The look that says, "How in the world could you ever know? You aren't that smart." This look, this attitude fits well that meaning of pride. Confidence, however, begins with faith or trust is something outside of you – for the Believer, it is our confidence in what Christ has done, and who Christ is in our lives.
Matthew Henry comments that "There are seven things God hates, and pride is the first, because it is at the bottom of much sin and gives rise to it." I have been reading on leadership (secular articles) and the power of confidence and strengths of the Narcissistic leader. However the negatives of narcissism outweigh the positives and several writers seem to support that successful leaders selectively show their weaknesses ("by exposing some vulnerability, they reveal their approachability and humanity.") This lead me to think about Paul admonition in Philippians where some study of the Greek supports that the "do nothing" translation, though adequate, misses the nuance of "thinking about it" even before doing. God judges the heart - the thoughts. As the Apostle Paul points out in the context of this passage, we can have confidence in who we are because of where we are (“united with Christ”) and therefore, we have a spirit (thought life) of humility, especially toward others.
Powerful stuff that is hard to reconcile with the hard-charging spirit of the times: but it is the CEO who is open to the thoughts of others and their experience, teaching, and word of wisdom that will truly achieve this Biblical mandate for leadership.
I understand struggle of lowliness of mind: for I wrestle with thinking I'm right and "others" have not thought something out as well as I have. Sometimes I express this in my behavior; other times, I just think it. In both cases, I am sinning - for pride is at the foundation of both.
CEOs who lead from humility are indeed rare. As a person thinks in his heart so is he. Ouch. What are you thinking about?
Copyright (c) 2006 by P. Griffith Lindell
No comments:
Post a Comment