Leader

In his classic book, Good to Great, Jim Collins writes about different levels of leadership. Some of the most famous business, political, and organizational leaders you can think of are phenomenal Level 4 leaders—extremely effective at building a strong company or successful team.

However, Collins points out that his research shows there are actually five levels of leadership. The reason most leaders don't move past Level 4 is because Level 5 leaders are marked by such humility, they are rarely known. Why? Because their focus is no longer about themselves—it is purely about the mission, the company, and the team.

Jesus, without a doubt, is a leader. And even though His name is quite famous like many Level 4 leaders, He is a Level 5 leader through and through, because His heart is for you and the mission of His Kingdom.

A Gentle Instruction

We see Jesus' Level 5 leadership heart in our key passage (Matthew 11:28-30) for this series about The Heart of Christ. After inviting us to come to Him and find rest, He then gives us an instruction: "Take my yoke upon you."

A yoke was a wooden piece of equipment used by farmers to connect two oxen, donkeys, or horses together to pull a plow through the fields to prepare the ground for planting or pull a wagon to haul people or items. Could a farmer have just one ox pull the plow? Sure. But it was far easier and more efficient if two beasts of burden worked together.

Too often, you and I try to carry things through life on our own. But as you've most likely experienced through life, this is hard, making you feel "heavily burdened" (Matthew 11:28). That's why Jesus' instruction is so welcoming and inspiring. He is leading us to let Him carry the load with us.

So let yourself be "yoked" with the heart of Christ by obeying His teaching, seeking Him in prayer, worshipping Him through serving, and singing with joy that the Creator of all things is leading you to link up with Him in everything. Because—as a Level 5 Leader—Jesus has your best in mind.