The fixed mindset leader, the perfectionist, strives to take his fixed ability and perfect it. You can spot them a mile away. The smartest guy in the room. The 55-year-old talking about his high school accolades or his score on the LSAT. The guy who never ceases to brag about his stuff and his achievements. As Collins and Dweck rightly characterize the Iacocca types: their mindset is that of a genius with a thousand helpers.
The fixed mindset perfectionist creates a toxic culture, one that is capable of taking great resources and squandering them. He’s looking for acclaim, proof that he’s smarter, more capable, better endowed than others. It's the opposite of good stewardship.
Motives matter. Those striving to grow and to be good (good like Jesus) have a much different motive. It matters how we live. It matters now and it matters for eternity.
And it matters what we believe and how strongly we believe it. Our faith in Christ is the foundation for our ability to encourage others with wholesome teaching. It’s how we show, with gentleness and respect, those who oppose the truth where they are wrong.
Do not let what has happened to you in your life (tragic events, preferences, inclinations, assumptions, rejections, and betrayal) dictate what you believe. Or limit your growth. Get back up. It’s time to roll. And grow. There are godly battles for you to fight and God needs you in fighting shape.
As the Bible says, do not be conformed to the patterns of this world, but be renewed by God’s word, and Holy Spirit confirmation (paraphrase of Romans 12:2). Let God change the way you think, let Him blow open your ceilings. God will confirm for you the truth. Want the truth? Ask God. Want wisdom? Ask God. As we ask and trust God we learn to know what matters - what we can confirm to be true. This is God’s will for us, which is good and pleasing. And yes, perfect!
We see with much of the modern-day church copycat behavior. So boring. So impotent. We try to perfect the behavior, customs, and legalism of the world. “Do this,” “don’t do that.” Copycat behavior is not from the Spirit of Christ. The man of God knows he has complete freedom in Christ. And knows that he is a new creation in Christ. Different in Christ is extremely good. For everything is fulfilled in Christ. We have freedom from sin (yet don’t be fooled we are still sinners) and we can walk humbly, in right standing with our Maker.
We are not looking for or expecting perfect leaders. For there is only one perfect servant leader, Jesus Christ. His standards are perfect (Psalm 19:7). But we are looking for those servant leaders that strive to be perfect (perfect like Jesus, Matthew 5:48 and Galatians 3:3).
The servant leader is ever improving, growing, and developing into the humble, effective leader God designed us to be.
Disciples of Jesus Christ do not leave jobs half done. Like Titus, we work until we have completed the work God assigns to us (1:5).
Yes, indeed, strive to be perfect and blameless, but know for sure that godliness cannot be achieved by your own effort alone. We are sanctified by the Spiirit of Christ alive in us. We intentionally and consistently do what is just and right in all our dealings. We are ever mindful of prioritizing helping the poor and needy (Jeremiah 22:15).
You will see a well-qualified Christian leader in a person who loves what is good. “He must live wisely and be just. He must live a devout and disciplined life” (1:8).
Arrogance, pride, and selfishness are disqualifiers. As Jim Collins says, get those people off the SLT ASAP. Get them off of your church leadership team. First who, then what (Collins).
What’s the point? What’s the purpose of good governance, structures, and leadership principles? We see the answer in verse 11. It’s to turn people to God. And to ensure that we do not, by false teaching, bad governance, and bad leadership, turn people away from the truth of Jesus Christ.
So yes, be real and genuine. Drink wine - if God’s Spirit approves of it - but never get drunk. Be humble - never arrogant. Be confident in the Power of Christ Jesus. Be patient and kind. Do not retaliate, but love justice and what is good. Be honest with money. Go the extra mile to live above criticism - to ensure that you are not crooked with money. Be generous. Always.
Dear Jesus, please show us your truth and help us to grow toward perfection. Please show us your way - not the way of the world. Amen.
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