Does your leadership include confrontation when needed? (106-2)

Few things are more difficult for a leader than to give a firm rebuke to a team member. Yet there are times when confrontation is the most loving thing a leader can do for another person. Read 2 Kings 20:16-19a.

Hezekiah was one of only two kings in Judah who completely followed the Lord. In the days of Esarhaddon, King of Assyria, Hezekiah became ill to the point of death. Hezekiah poured out his heart to God in prayer and God graciously granted him an extra 15 years of life.

After God had granted the king an additional fifteen years of life, the prophet Isaiah rebuked Hezekiah for foolishly displaying all his treasures to the envoys from Babylon. Near the end of his reign, Hezekiah had given in to the folly of pride. God cared enough about Hezekiah’s leadership that through one of His prophets He confronted Hezekiah for his behavior.

The Leader who created all leadership principles, who truly cares for His people and desires what is best for them, also created confrontation and exhortation. There are many examples of Jesus using confrontation with His team including:

• Matthew 6:23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”
• Luke 10:41-42 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
• Mark 6:35-37a By this time it was late in the day, so His disciples came to Him. “This is a remote place,” they said, “and it’s already very late. Send the people away so they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” But He answered, “You give them something to eat.”
• Matthew 26:10 Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to Me.”

Even though some leaders are more comfortable with confrontation than others, effective leaders understand that they must use a variety of communication techniques including confrontation and exhortation to serve their team.

Colossians 3:16a-17 “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom…And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”