The title might strike you strangely, but stick with me. I think you'll understand. Leadership does not come with time. It comes with training. Never stop increasing your skills: as a thinker, a problem solver, and as a communicator. Proverbs 22:29 reminds us of this fact: "Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before obscure men."
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I noticed in 1 Chronicles 15:22 of the Old Testament, there was a man named Chenaniah. He was "the chief of the Levites" and he was "in charge of the singing; he gave instruction in singing because he was skillful."
He was given the role of leadership not just because he was a loving person; it required more than just having a good heart and a fuzzy outlook. Chenaniah was skillful.
Now this does not discount the fact that he must have had a great heart. I believe that! I constantly preach about the need to keep our hearts right and to be motivated only out of love. I won't back off of that reality. However, let me hasten to suggest that although Chenaniah had a good heart, he was also very skillful! That's why he was in charge of the singers and could instruct others.
He could tune up the altos and brighten the tenors. He knew how to position the singers so the "crashing cymbals" didn't deafen them. He insured that the delicate harps and lyres didn't get drowned out by the "sounding trumpets." Chenaniah knew how to deliver the kind of concert that memorable evenings are made of.
David, too, had both, didn't he? Heart and skill, that is. It was said of David that he led the people "according to the integrity of his heart and guided them with his skillful hands." (Psalm 78:72)
There it is again. Skill.
Skill is not just an add-on. It is a high calling.
Here's the balance. We often think that if our hearts are good, it's enough to excuse mediocrity in the skill department. If we have good intentions and pure hearts, then people should overlook our sketchy performances and our lack of leadership acuity.
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