If someone you loved deeply follow you around everyday, all the time, and emulated everything you did; would you admire that person?
What habits would you want replicated in your life? What repeated actions in your life would you not want replicated?
In the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30), what exactly do the two servants do that pleases God? In Scripture, we see the two faithful servants replicate what was given to them!
The whole idea of fruitfulness is not just to be a leader, but to be a leader who bears fruit.
Question #1: Do you see yourself as a leader?
The truth is, God does!
If you call yourself a Christian, you must also call yourself to lead.
If you ever plan on raising a godly family, you are going to have to tackle the idea of leading someone.
If you want to be in a place of influence in your chosen career path, leadership is again a major role we all must play.
If you ever want to take Jesus’ words seriously in Matthew 28:18-20, your responsibility to lead is not optional.
Truth #1: Whether or not we want to influence those around us and whether or not we intentionally want others to replicate our behavior, what people see and experience gets repeated.
A smile often replicates a smile, enthusiasm often replicates enthusiasm. Hope and courage are contagious and attractive to others.
Question #2: Are you aware of your leadership potential?
God is!
“Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.” – Luke 8:8 NIV
Whether Jesus is using the metaphor of money, fruit, or grain, many parables and stories thus have the idea of His followers reproducing who they are.
Like fruit bears seeds, seeds bring forth trees, and trees bring forth fruit; so leaders live by example and teach others who then become leaders themselves (Luke 6:40).
Truth #2: Healthy leaders fully train those they influence to become like them.
A mentor of mine so wisely stated: “I want my ceiling to be your floor.”
In essence, as high as he could ever reach he wanted me to start where he finished. What a value it is to have this attitude found in people today!
We need leaders who have the willingness to give someone who follows them everything they need to reach their full potential in Christ, holding nothing back.
Truth #3: Unhealthy leaders do not fully train those they influence and thus do not replicate who they are in Christ.
A tree will be known by its fruit, right? It’s also true to say a tree will be known by its lack of fruit.
Selfish leaders will always hoard their knowledge, power, and position and refuse to share the stage with others. This is the essence of King Saul of the Old Testament.
The King David’s among us will be the selfless leaders who give everything they have to add value to others.
Even more, as Jesus washed the disciples’ feet, are we willing to bow down to lift those we love up?
Finally, are we living a life worth replicating?
Again, if I had a younger family member who I cared deeply for follow me around everywhere I go; what kind of fruit would they find in my life? If that same family member emulated every thought, attitude, and behavior I acted upon that day; would it be worth emulating?
I promise you, what you do in the darkest corner of your closet will eventually manifest, bear fruit and replicate itself (Luke 12: 2 & 3).
This can be both good news and bad.
Bitterness reproduces bitterness. Hate reproduces hate.
Love reproduces love. Kindness reproduces kindness. What you do on a daily basis, good or bad, will eventually show.
What kinds of fruit are you cultivating in your home life?
What kinds of fruit are you carrying into the workplace?
What kind of person do you eventually want those you love and care for to see in you?
