Dare Great Things For Christ

When all things are said and done, the goal of leadership ought to be simple.  Thomas Aquinas provides us with a wonderful summary in chapter sixteen of his work, On The King, he gives us a final goal - three things.  By focusing on these three things we can find the direction we need as we apply leadership to our home, our business, and our world.

In business as in life, success is largely a function of focus.  Knowing what our priorities are allows us to hit them correctly allows us to be successful.  What’s the proper focus for leadership?  What is it supposed to be all about?  Aquinas’ De Regno, offers us an amazing lesson in leadership, allowing us to see that the true end goal of leadership is in the ultimate perfection of those that we lead.

 

We all know the temptation to glory, power, and fame.  We all know the power of its allure and how desirable it seems to be.  So what’s the downside?  If in fact we don’t live as soldiers of Christ and followers of the King of Kings but become tyrants ourselves, benefitting ourselves at the expense of our flock, what’s the downside?  What could possible go wrong?  Listen in to my commentary on chapters 10 and 11 of Thomas Aquinas’ De Regno.

Choosing to lead is choosing a kind of solitude, a way of life that few people understand.  Leadership has its own crosses and its own blessings, and its own rewards.  St. Thomas Aquinas in his book, De Regno, in chapter 10, lays out for us the uncommon rewards for the uncommon sacrifices that a leader has to endure for the sake of God. 

For all the effort that goes into leadership what shall be our reward?  Afterall considering all the things that we sacrifice and do in order to make great things happen, what does God have laid up for us who have labored so hard for Him?  Is it earthly glory?  Is it power and prestige?  What should it be?  St. Thomas Aquinas offers us an amazing insight in his letter, De Regno.

In Chapter 9 of De Regno, Thomas Aquinas makes a startling discovery.  He speaks about the reward that God is offering for the leader.  And he ends by saying that the reward of the leader is to have God himself.  This strikes me as important for us to understand the true nature of happiness – the true reason of why we are doing what we are doing.

Without a doubt our life as leaders can propose challenges.  And yet, what is its reward?  What are we in this for after all?  And as a Christian leader, what is it proper to be in it for?  What is the proper reward for a follower of Christ who takes upon himself or herself the mantle of leadership?  Is it right to look for anything at all?  What does our Lord teach us about leadership and its rewards?

Everybody is tempted sometimes to question the value of leading by virtue.  Afterall, wouldn’t we make more money, be more profitable, find power quicker by mitigating our leadership into a life of power seeking or pleasure seeking?  Sometimes it seems like people who don’t follow God’s law even flourish the quicker.  Thomas Aquinas gives us a different perspective and underlines the essential importance that virtue plays in leadership.

When I first began these leadership lessons on De Regno by Aquinas, I never anticipated finding some of the greatest jewels about leadership in the chapter on tyranny.  But in fact, that is just what happened.  Sometimes you see most clearly what a thing is by looking at it’s opposite.  And Aquinas shows us most clearly what good Christian leadership looks like by looking at it’s opposition - tyranny.

In today’s world it can be very confusing to figure out exactly what it is we’re supposed to do as leaders.  Many people will have many opinions.  Leaders bringing concord, leaders charging from the front, leaders supporting all with compassion.  St. Thomas Aquinas actually has a very clear vision for leaders.  He calls it unity.  But what exactly does he mean?