Abstract
Richard Stearns presents a superb resource for leaders in Lead Like it Matters to God. While his primary illustrations and applications relate easily to Christian business leaders, the truths apply to anyone in a leadership position. Stearns recognized this early in the book, suggesting that “Leadership is crucial to accomplishing God's purposes in our world” (7). In essence, as Stearns identified, the concept of leadership has far-reaching effects. Furthermore, Stearns argued that leadership affects everything everywhere. He indicated this book was “about why … the values Christian leaders embrace are more important than the success they achieve” (5).
The book contains twenty chapters, but each is relatively succinct and gets right to the point. The first couple of chapters serve as an introduction, while the remaining chapters explain Godly leadership traits. In the introduction, Stearns reminds the reader that faithfulness is the measure of success for a leader–not the proverbial bottom line on the quarterly financials. Hence, the premise that one must justify their behavior by some other standard such as peer acceptance or a promotion at work is false. Instead, he presented twenty chapters that begin with a verse of Scripture and an applicable leadership principle indicating that submission and faithfulness are the measures of success.
In chapter one, Stearns related to the idea that Christian leaders ultimately contribute to the good of others as God works through them. This reality is also where he presented his view that the “leader is the one critical ingredient that changes the world” (11). Paraphrasing from Ephesians, the author indicated that every person has a role but all are important. He applied this to the workplace and indicated that the business leader had a role in this effort. Nevertheless, the Christian leader has a role in God's grand redemptive plan.
Stearns’ point applies principles from the First Corinthians to the leader in situations other than the church. First, he contended that First Corinthians chapter 12, written about the church, used the anthropomorphic language of a human body to indicate the relationships of those people to each other in the church (11). Second, however, he applied this reality to groups and the value of those group participants. Then, Stearns related that “there should be no division in the body” and that leaders gifted by God are worthy of respect (12). However, the author went on to say that just about everyone is a leader. Thus, even though Stearns considered the passage he referenced to be about the church with its leaders and members, he used the passage to apply those biblical truths in any setting.
In chapter two, Stearns started with Jeremiah 29:11. Further, his leadership principle from that passage was that God is sovereign, yet God has called each person to participate in his purposes for them. Further, as Stearns related, one's life, designed in a way that contributes to their molding and equipping, has prepared them for the time in which they are currently. Next, Stearns addressed the adage that hindsight is often 20/20. His advice was for Christians to follow God in every part of their life even the humdrum. Then, potentially, the author contended God might use that person to accomplish the remarkable. He also discussed the idea of surrender as it relates to faith in Christ as opposed to individualism. Along those lines, Stearns described how God had directed his steps. He also recounted how that was so apparent looking back at his life. Finally, Stearns's position was that “as a Christian leader surrender is … where … leadership must begin” (32).
Stearns went on in the remaining chapters to relate how this principle of surrender is antithetical for a typical leader. However, his point was that Christian leadership is different. Stearns characterized this necessity in the following chapters as a forfeiture of the Christian leader's desire to surrender to God's desire. The author continuously related this to his time as a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in various organizations. He described this reality as the leader's commitment which was consistent with the concept of trusting. The freedom for a leader was in trusting God with their career. There is strength for the leader when they function not from fear but trust in a sovereign God.
Therefore, as Stearns suggested, a distinction is not based on winning or being the champion, but instead, the concept of doing one's best in each circumstance was proper for the Christian leader. In other words, a virtuous leader's principles are the key. He illustrated that point with this statement “good outcomes do not lead to excellence: excellence leads to good outcomes” (61). Then, in the concluding chapter, the author identified that the primary purpose of the leader is faithfulness. Thus, the leader's faithfulness is the scale of their accomplishment.
In conclusion, Stearns successfully presented his argument that leadership affects everything. He demonstrated this through the many chapters. He also showed that success for the leader is faithfulness, not material wealth or any other gain. The only requirement is for the leader to remain faithful. Even though the author wrote mainly from a business perspective, he identified and presented leadership traits from a Christian worldview. Therefore, all truths about authentic Christian leadership, including various tenets, are invaluable to those desiring to serve faithfully and lead well in the church and outside the church.
I recommend this book to all persons serving in a leadership role in their church as a pastor, teacher, or even small group leader and outside the church for those who teach and provide educational leadership. However, I also recommend this book to all leaders regardless of their vocational setting. While the settings may differ, the overarching principles are objective, and, therefore, it is worth the time to read this relatively short yet impactful book on leadership.