Value-Add

John Maxwell, the grandfather of leadership who has written more on the topic of leadership than anyone in history, says leaders should focus on adding value to others.

I could not agree more.

But there may be a missing step. (And as much as I've read and heard from Maxwell, I believe he would wholeheartedly agree.)

Before we add value, we value.

To be blunt, if you don't value me, I don't care too much about what you have to offer me.

I suspect you'd agree.

And that's what Jesus was amazing at doing. He valued people. He especially valued the people no one else valued.

• Shepherds heard the news first.

• Matthew, the despised tax collector, was one of the twelve.

• Mary Magdalene, the formerly demon-possessed women, was around a ton.

We could go on and on, and I suspect at least two or three other names just came to mind from your knowledge of the scriptures.

Every time I have failed in a significant way in my leadership, it was because I failed to value someone.

I want to be a value-add, of course. Who doesn't?

But first I want to be a value-er.

I imagine this is what Paul had in mind in the heart of Romans, chapter 12--one of the most incredible chapters in all of scripture--when he wrote: "Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality." (NLT, emphasis added)

So I invite you, next time you're with God's people, see what happens if you simply value them a little more than you did the last time you were with them. Maybe, just maybe, this is what bringing God's Kingdom on earth is like.