As we move forward with our two-week series on Leading in the Fruit of the Spirit, today we turn to the first of the nine facets of the fruit: love. In order to speak about love in our culture, we must first define what we mean. The Greeks had four, specific words they used to define what the English language uses the one word–love to define. Those words are eros, philios, storge, and agape. As you would imagine eros is physical love, often equated with sexual love. When we say, “They made love,” the word the Greeks would use is eros. As we know, the physical action may have nothing to do with actual love.
The word philios as in the word Philadelphia, which is taken from the Greek words philios (friendship love) and adelophos (brother), means a warm affection or friendship. We may not use the word love in this way as much as we would say, “He’s my close friend,” but the Greeks would use the word in a different way than and with a specifically different meaning than the others.
Storge is the instinctual love of an animal for its offspring, as when a hen nurtures it’s chicks. We would probably use this word seldom in the context of human beings.
Finally, agape is a self-sacrificing care for another. This is the word used most often in the New Testament of the Bible when speaking of God’s love for people. God’s love is self-sacrificing by definition, since He has no “need” for human beings and yet Jesus sacrificed His life on our behalf, out of his great love (agape) for us.
So, now that we have a context for the word love, specifically agape, when it comes to the fruit of the Spirit, the first facet–love–is agape. As leaders, whether spiritual or secular, when we have agape for those we lead, we will lead them as people and not as objects. True leadership cares for those being led. Much has been made of the concept of servant leadership in the business world over the past several decades, and this is a corrective to the idea that workers or employees are just “cogs” in the “machine” of the business or industry, and need not be considered as people first when we lead. When we lead as those who serve, we demonstrate agape, and we demonstrate the type of leadership Jesus modeled.
Jesus made it clear to His disciples, who would become the first leaders of the church after Jesus died, rose again and returned to heaven, that they must not lead as the “leaders of the Gentiles,” (The expression Gentile in the context in which Jesus used it, would mean pagans or non-believers.) Jesus said the greatest among them would be the ones who serve the most. My bias is to lead in that style. In order to do so, we must exhibit agape to those we lead. That can be done most effectively when we have been filled with the Holy Spirit and are exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit, starting with love.
What if you aren’t a follower of Jesus? What does all of this have to do with you? Everything! After all, every person appreciates being treated as a person. Every person is more likely to follow a leader who cares about them, and who acknowledges their weaknesses and strengths. Think about your leadership style. Are you a servant leader? If not, how would you characterize your leadership? What is most important to you, the “bottom line,” of the well-being of your employees? While a person who leads without agape may get results, and may even be promoted, what will be that leader’s long-term legacy?
As you consider these questions, I realize you may or may not be concerned with any long-term legacy. Perhaps you just want to climb the corporate ladder, or attain a certain standard of living. If that’s the case, these posts may spur you to something greater. If you’re already more concerned about those you lead than your bottom line, then these posts will help you understand what it takes to be the best leader you can be. After all, we were created for relationship, and when we live in the fruit of the Spirit we will relate most effectively with others at home, work and in the community around us.
Here’s to leading better, by living the fruit of love (agape) in our leadership–today!