fbpx

Biblical Leaders are Thankful Leaders

by | Nov 25, 2015

When President Abraham Lincoln announced the first Thanksgiving holiday, he wanted Americans to remember the source of their blessings. Even while the U.S. was in the middle of the Civil War, President Lincoln knew that the people had so much to be thankful for. God was still working and blessing his people, even during the war. When making Thanksgiving a holiday in 1863, he said that the year was full of “the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies,” and that “they are gracious gifts of the Most High God.”

Great leadership from a great leader. What about you? In the middle of your passion, hard work, family, pressure, travel, (insert your words here), where does being thankful rank?

My challenge to you today is different. My challenge as you move beyond Thanksgiving, into December and plans for 2016, is to consider how to integrate gratitude into your daily leadership model. Biblical leaders are thankful leaders! It is a part of who they are, how they lead and how they live.

Being a thankful leader helps us be a more:

  • optimistic leader
  • humble leader
  • relational leader
  • centered leader

A biblical leader is always going back to the source for guidance. Here are a few thankful scriptures to get you started:

  • Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18
  • We always thank God for all of you and pray for you constantly. 1 Thessalonians 1:2
  • Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. Psalms 100:4
  • Give thanks to the Lord… Psalms 136:1-26  (worth the read!)

May every one of us who reads these words today be challenged to find ways to make thankfulness a basic part of who we are and how we lead.

Photo of David Roth

David Roth

David Roth has been the president and CEO of Workmatters since October, 2003. Workmatters is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded in Northwest Arkansas in 2003 with a mission is to help people pursue God’s purpose for their work. Since then, Workmatters has been used to impact thousands of leaders in Northwest Arkansas and across the U.S. Prior to leading Workmatters, Mr. Roth was vice president, sales and marketing for J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc. Before joining J.B. Hunt in 1999, David was the senior vice president of marketing for Manugistics, a supply chain management software provider in Maryland and vice president of marketing for American Software in Atlanta, Ga. He also has nine years of supply chain management experience with McKesson Corporation in San Francisco, Calif. and Harrison, Ark. David has a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of Arkansas. He resides in Fayetteville, Ark. with his wife, Theresa and has two sons, Dylan and Tyler.
Integrity in Action: Reflections on Proverbs 10:9

Integrity in Action: Reflections on Proverbs 10:9

When I think of the word integrity, I think of honesty and authenticity. Of course, we should be asking ourselves, “Am I being honest and truthful to those I work with?” But when was the last time you wondered if you were being truthful and honest with yourself?  

read more
Being Better Than ‘Good Enough’: Reflections on Colossians 3:12-14

Being Better Than ‘Good Enough’: Reflections on Colossians 3:12-14

Living out our faith at work is much more than not doing the wrong things. It’s about actively doing the right things. When we clothe ourselves in the virtues listed in these verses, we make it evident to those around us who the master is in our lives.

How do we ensure we live out these virtues instead of just getting by on being good enough?

read more
Mastering Priorities: Reflections on Matthew 6:24

Mastering Priorities: Reflections on Matthew 6:24

The first of the four gospels to be written, Matthew opens the New Testament with the genealogy of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, King of the Jews. This section of the Sermon on the Mount begins with verse 19, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal.” But what is treasure really?

read more
Ephesians 4 at Work

Ephesians 4 at Work

In Ephesians 4:1-16, Paul explains that our differences are not to divide us, and that Jesus broke down the barriers between us with His death and resurrection and that now all are joined as the body of Christ regardless of our differences. Let’s walk through these verses together and discern through Paul’s instructions to the Ephesians, which we’ll bring into our day-to-day work.  

read more
A Daily Reflection to Mindfully End Your Work Day

A Daily Reflection to Mindfully End Your Work Day

Galatians 5:22-23 gives us a beautiful picture of the fruit of the Spirit being produced in our lives. Like apples on a tree – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control naturally flow from us. It’s such a stirring image that we often stop there. However, if we read on, we see that we have a part to play in bearing fruit. Verses 24-25 tell us that we are to live as people who belong to Christ, crucifying the flesh and keeping in step with the Spirit.

read more