I was recently listening to a great teaching by Geoff Surratt of Seacoast Church about ways people can serve their leaders and I began thinking in a similar vein about what it looks like to honor our leaders.
One of the core goals of my ministry is to reinstate the virtue of honor back into the body of Christ. And although I believe honor is something that we should give to everyone, including those beside us and below us, the most natural place for most of us to start is with the people above us.
My generation has done a phenomenal job at obliterating the concept of honor, especially in regards to those who hold positions of leadership. We have confused it with respect and come to believe it’s something we can withhold based on the performance or likeability of the person we’re ascribing it to.
But that’s not biblical honor. In the Bible, honor is weight. Honor is value. While respect must be earned, honor can be freely given from the heart based on the calling and potential God has placed inside of a person and the position God has given them in your life.
To show honor to leaders is to treat them as being special because in reality that’s what they are. God has placed them in a unique position over you. He has given them the responsibility of casting vision and coordinating the efforts of the people they lead to achieve it. And that includes yours.
What your leader needs and deserves then is for you to ascribe to them the weight God has already given them. To set them apart as special in your life and be willing to do whatever it takes to help them succeed. And you’ll find that by setting them up for success you’ll by extension be setting yourself up for success.
If you’re at a loss as far as what it looks like to practically honor those above you, ask yourself the following questions for a good start:
1. What is your leader’s favorite way to communicate?
-Adapt to it. Even if it’s not your favorite way to communicate.
2. What makes your leader’s day?
-Do it.
3. What does your leader dread?
-Nuke it before it ever gets to them.
4. What is the thing you can do for your leader that only you can do?
-Keep doing it and do it better.
5. What sets my leader back?
-Do everything in your power to make sure it doesn’t happen.
If you’re still struggling with honoring and serving those God has placed over you, one of the greatest things you may need to realize is that God hasn’t placed your leaders over you to make your vision come to pass. He has put you under them to make their vision come to pass. And God isn’t going to hold you accountable for their vision. He’s going to hold you accountable for your support of their vision.
This post was written by Pastor Steven Furtick, Senior Pastor of Elevation Church in Charlotte, North Carolina.
