Are FOLLOWING and LEADING connected?

Leadership begins with following.

The first test that Jesus gave His leaders was the test of following. If they had refused to follow Him, they never would have become leaders.

God wants humble leaders who know how to obey Him and follow Him. God is also looking for leaders who have enough humility to be willing to follow other people.

The Bible says it like this, “If you have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own?” Luke 16:12 (KJV)

Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men.

What did Jesus mean when He said, “I will make you fishers of men?”

Most people would say that Jesus was talking about evangelism. It’s true that He was talking about evangelism, but I believe that fishing for men is more than evangelism.

Think about it. Why was Jesus calling the disciples? He was gathering His future leaders.

Jesus knew that in three years He would be in heaven and He needed some leaders here on earth. Jesus could have said it like this, “Follow Me and I will make you a leader.”

The two-way flow of leadership.

The Roman Centurion in Matthew Chapter Eight understood the two-way flow of leadership.  He knew he was under his leader’s authority and he had soldiers under his authority. This man understood how to lead and how to follow and that is what caused God’s power to flow in his life.

Following and leading are connected. Everybody needs to be following somebody. If you stop following, you stop leading.

People are always watching you to see how you respond to the leadership in your life. If you won’t follow the leaders that are over you, then why should others follow your leadership?

Think about it this way – there are followers who are looking for leaders.  Are you a leader to be followed?

I want to ask you this question – who are you following?