The most powerful motivator for leaders

Tom Harper Sept. 5, 2023

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A few words from the prophet Azariah motivated King Asa of Judah to up his leadership performance. The same exhortation can motivate anyone in leadership today, too.

The prophet simply told the king to look beyond the vision he had for his kingdom. Beyond the history of accomplishments, current circumstances, and daily grind.

He said, "Be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded" (2 Chr. 15:7).

In so many words, Azariah told the king to look forward to the divine reward that would follow a life of perseverance.

The promise of future rewards motivates many leaders. It does me. When we pour into people's lives, drip our sweat and blood into a business, sacrifice financially to start a church, or give time and treasure to causes that matter to us, it's incredibly encouraging to know God's watching and will reward us.

Is that self-centered? No, it's biblical. I'll illustrate with two verses:

He [Moses] regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward (Heb. 11:26).

"Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done" (Rev. 22:12).

Are you looking beyond your leadership vision to the day when Christ will smile as he bestows your reward?

Vision statements are good motivators, but God's promised rewards truly inspire.

Excerpted from Servant Leader Strong: Uniting Biblical Wisdom and High-Performance Leadership, by Tom Harper (DeepWater Books, 2019). Also available in Spanish and Amharic.

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Tom Harper is publisher of BiblicalLeadership.com and executive chairman of Networld Media Group, a business-to-business publisher and event producer. He has written five books, including Servant Leader Strong: Uniting Biblical Wisdom and High-Performance Leadership (DeepWater Books, 2019) as well as the Christian business fable Through Colored Glasses and its sequel Inner Threat (DeepWater, 2022). Learn More »

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