Follow and Imitate the Leader By Howard Rich

A Call to Imitate Christ

It is amazing how children look at what they see around them and imitate it. I am a proud grandpa and love to be around my 20-month-old grandson. One of the best parts of our time together is playing chase. He loves to have me chase him around the house, then we switch and he chases me. During these times, he is looking at what I do, then he tries to imitate me.

As I think about this, it reminds me of how I am in my relationship with Jesus. I am to look at Him and imitate what He does.

Follow Me

When Jesus called a person to Him, He said, “Follow me.” The Gospels give twenty examples of Jesus calling people to Him with the words “follow me.” The Greek root word ἀκολουθέω, translated as “follow me” in eighteen of those instances, has as one of its primary meanings “to join one as a disciple, become or be his disciple.”

Jesus was not merely asking these people to line up behind Him and play follow-the-leader. He was beckoning those He selected to imitate Him. His inner circle of twelve lived with Him day in and day out, eating, drinking, sleeping, praying, and traveling together. Jesus created an environment where He was side-by-side with those He led. Those who would later be His apostles saw Jesus model His teachings; therefore, they had a mental image of His leadership in action.

A Counterculture Posture

The Gospels repeatedly show us that Jesus lived counter to nearly every idea people have concerning leadership, position, and privilege. One of the most poignant examples is given in John 13:1-20, where Jesus washes the feet of his inner circle. The imagery of the King of Kings serving His followers has inspired people to forgive and serve each other ever since.

The Leader Sets the Tone

Something leaders need to be constantly cognizant of is that we set the tone for those under our leadership and for the parts of the organization we lead. Wouldn’t it be incredible if we looked to Jesus to set the example for us so we can set the example for those under our stewardship? Let’s create environments where we lead to grow, thrive, and excel as they look to us to do our best to imitate Jesus in our leadership.

Howard Rich is the CFO of Amazi Water and the President of the Center for Steward Leaders Studies. Howard is a life-long advocate of generous living and desires to see Christian’s lead from a heart of stewardship and generosity.

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