Leadership: Standing For the Right Thing

Leadership is really not all that difficult once you get a handle on all the things involved. A good leader knows what needs to be done, and then does it or leads other people to do it. A good leader also delegates well.

Have you ever had to face tough choices when leading?

In Genesis 19, two angels visit Lot in Sodom. He has them come to his home, and he made them a feast.

But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter: And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them. And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him, And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly. Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof. And they said, Stand back. And they said again, This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to break the door. But the men put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut to the door. And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great: so that they wearied themselves to find the door.
Genesis 19:4-11

I am not sure what Lot thought he could accomplish by going out to talk to the men. Genesis 13:13 tells us that they were wicked. Giving them the angels was not an option, but giving them his daughters should not have been either. Had wrong started to seem right to Lot? He had a tough choice to make. He was ready to choose one sin over the other. I guess he forgot about that other choice – to do neither.

America’s leaders seem to suffer today from acting on false choices. We need good leaders to stand for the right thing. Sometimes the right thing is not a choice that is before us. We need to be sure we don’t overlook it.

My father once told me to not ever make a decision when I felt pressured to make it. Walk away. Take some time. Come back to it. You cannot make the best decision if you feel pressured.

Lot should have stayed in the house. Did he not think those angels possessed any power? Again, I think he was confused. He had lived among the wicked so long that he was beginning to be swayed. His perspective was not as clear as it should have been because he felt pressured.

LIFE APPLICATION

Today’s challenge is to look at your own life. Is there an area in which you need to exercise better leadership? Others are looking to you. Others are counting on you. Lead and lead well. Don’t let them down.