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Holy,
Hungry, and Humble
Some
students of mine recently completed over 150 interviews with leaders
across the United States – CEOs, business owners, managers, military
personnel, entrepreneurs, civic leaders, politicians, and pastors. The
interviews sought to identify common key leadership principles,
consistent with Scripture. The responses were fascinating and
instructive, but none more so than one senior church leader who
distilled his insights into a single statement.
“Be
holy, hungry, and humble.”
Those
three terms drive to the foundations of Christian discipleship, and
present a challenge in a culture far more drawn to sin, selfishness,
and celebrity status.
Holy.
The pursuit of purity and the commitment to live set apart for Christ,
sounds good but fades in the face of contemporary values and the
pressure to “fit in.” We’d like just a moderate dose of holiness,
thanks, but end up with little more than an inoculation. Yet the Lord
continues to declare, “Be holy as I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:4-6)
Hungry.
Do we live with an insatiable appetite to know Christ and draw close to
God (Philippians 3:8), or find ourselves driven by other impulses; the
hunger of personal ambition, recognition, or success? Do we long for
the Lord as much as we might for a marriage partner, or a child, or a
better job? What gnaws at us most and deepest in this season of our
lives?
Humble.
In lives filled with pride and pretense, this also confronts us. We
like recognition, credit, and appreciation. It feels good when people
notice us. So, we hang out shingles that display our achievements and
accolades, beginning with our pre-school graduation certificate. But
the fruit of this pride never ripens to something sweet. (1 John
2:16-17)
“Holy,
hungry, and humble” describes the essence of Christian discipleship not
just Christian leadership. This triumvirate of terms perhaps captures
the heart of what it means to be a Christ-follower. They represent more
than three nicely alliterated words. They denote lives on a collision
course with our culture … and a transformational Journey with Christ.
Holy,
hungry, and humble. May this become our mantra as we continue in the
Way of Christ.
In
HOPE –
David
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