A great military, religious, political, and business leader, King Solomon, advised his son that wisdom was everywhere calling for his attention if he would listen (Proverbs 8:1-3). Today's social scientists, in carefully observing, theorizing, and testing, are rediscovering ancient biblical truths about leadership, and shedding new light on their functional dynamics. Solomon would suggest we take a look.

A New Type of Leader

Winston (1999) well sums up the call for a new type of leader with: “Management writers of today cry out for role models, mentors, and leaders with a human touch” (p.22). Kouzes and Posner (1995) say it this way, "We suspect the best kept secret of successful leaders is love... Leadership is an affair of the heart, not of the head" (p.305). Tom peters, in the intro to Kouzes and Posner's book, calls caring (the heart), the "essence of leadership" (p.xvi). In a recent Fast Company article Tim Sanders, chief solutions officer at Yahoo(2002), writes, "The most powerful force in business isn't greed, fear, or even the raw energy of unbridled competition. The most powerful force in business is love. It's what will help your company grow and become stronger."

Leading from the Heart

Solomon, the ultimate mentor for leaders, advises us to “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23). Pretenders give themselves away in every nuance, motion and action. Only those whose hearts are kept pure respond under every circumstance and in every way to confirm their genuineness, and in ways that bring life to organizations.

Samuel tells us how importantly God sees this matter of the heart for effectual, transformational leadership, “the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people” (I Samuel 13:14, NIV). Later, King David demonstrates his own understanding of the importance of the heart in Psalm 51, “Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward part” (v.6), and therefore asks the Lord to, “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me” (v.10). Pumping through David’s restored heart, his “broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart,” was this prayer, “Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem” (Psa 51:18). Entrepreneurial vision is nurtured in the heart broken and purified.

What is Love?

In our present culture the word love is so broadly used that we can equally say we love hot dogs, we loved a movie, or we love a person. Biblically we are presented with the concept of love being used with more precision, having three kinds of love: eros, phileo, agape. Geisler (1990) offers in his discussion on these three types of love:

'In eros desire is the cause of love, while in agape love is the cause of desire. Agapic love is not reciprocal. ...Erotic love is egoistic. It says, 'my first and last consideration is myself.' Philic love is mutualistic. It says, 'I will give as long as I receive.' Agapic love, on the other hand, is altruistic, saying, 'I will give, requiring nothing in return.' (p.49)

Bad leaders are often driven by eros love--by personal desires and self-interests. Good leaders usually only reach phileo love, and expect employees to love them back, or to never offer them problems. They are always disappointed, and often discouraged and confused. Transformational leaders are most effective if they attain agape love for others.

Geisler, Norman (1990). Christian ethics: options and issues.
Kouzes, Jim & Posner, Barry (1995). The leadership challenge.
Sanders, Tim (2002). Love Is the Killer App. Fast Company; Feb 2002
Winston, Bruce (1999). Be a manager for God’s sake.

(article by Art Mealer)