It may sound contrary—and it is contrary—to the world’s ways, but rich leadership is birthed in poverty of spirit.
When Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit,” He wasn’t speaking of being poor from a financial perspective but being needy from a spiritual perspective.
The Greek word for poverty in Matthew 5:3 is ptōchos. According to The KJV New Testament Greek Lexicon, ptōchos means “begging, needy, and powerless to accomplish an end.” This is in line with what Jesus said: “For without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).
Success tends to breed independence of God, and when we begin to feel that independence, our cries to Him become less frequent.
Perhaps the best leaders are those who understand that apart from Christ we can’t lead rightly. These leaders understand their utter dependence on God to love well and to lead well—to do anything and everything well—and take Jesus’s advice to remain in Him so they can bear much fruit (John 15:5).
Leaders who are poor in spirit don’t make hasty decisions. They wait upon the Lord for direction.
They do as Solomon suggests: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths” (Prov. 3:5-6).
This is not always easy to do in a fast-paced, information-driven society, but it produces outcomes laced with love.
Leaders who are poor in spirit spend time on their knees so they can see what the Father is doing and act accordingly.
