This title may seem odd to folks at first glance, but let me elaborate for a moment. I’m constructing it for the purpose of showing how easily deception enters into our mindset. How often have you had a great idea in your mind that became an all consuming, salient, dominant thought? I know I have had many. I also know Satan had one, the idea of independence from God. Satan was not following anyone, nor were the majority of those angels that were deceived. They were following his idea and the promise it held. They wanted to be liberated from a relationship with God and the constraints that came with it. The adversary infected Adam and Eve with the same idea and all of us inherited this disposition.
As believers we can deceive ourselves and believe that because we have accepted Christ, many of our ideas are sanctified somehow and free from the unbridled horse. For the purpose of clarification, idolatry is something we put first in our lives other than God, usually it’s us and our desires. We seek things and approaches that will provide an answer to our most pressing issues, situations or circumstances. In Adam and Eve’s case it was a means to increased status and getting their own way. Satan pointed the way; they accepted. The Lord knew this would be the pattern of things to come from his children. They had openly defied Him opting for another way.
We need to stop being so eager to attribute his approval or indifference to our ideas. We also need to use great caution before we get others involved and exert influence over them. I know about this because I have been both victor from holding on to the right idea and a victim from holding to the wrong one in my personal life. From a leadership perspective, people have followed me and become victims and victors in regards to the ideas that I have implemented and vice versa, me following others and reaping the same. That is the tough part about godly leadership. When in error you must admit that you have been wrong, and not in a flippant way, but a remorseful, truly repentant way. It’s calloused to say, “You agreed to this too!” It’s just as easy to say, “Well I’m not perfect and I make mistakes.” None of these will do. Leadership is a gift (Romans 12:8) and people follow folks who have the gift. Often we take this gift for granted and undervalue the people who have placed their trust in us. If they have given us even a small measure; we have to own our influence and the idolatry of our ideas. We also need to remember these verses.
Isaiah 55: 8-9
8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the LORD.
9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
Isaiah 65: 2
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not good, pursuing their own imaginations–”
These are sobering points about leadership, wisdom and ideas. So often we think the thoughts in our heads are simply our own, but the reality is they could emanate from us, but they could also come from God or our adversary. To think otherwise, reveals a state of deception.
James 3: 13-18
“13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. 17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.”
In review, remember if you are a leader, there are two kingdom’s competing for you and those you influence. Make sure you are in alignment with the right one, make sure my friend. The words or James are important here.
James 3:1
“Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know
that we who teach will be judged more strictly.”
May God bless your ideas and the works of your hands as you receive inspiration from Him.