BECOMING A HEALTHY LEADER: Great Persons, Great Leaders

In the kingdom of God, greatness is not in a position—but in a person. True greatness doesn’t come from titles, pulpits, or positions, but from the kind of heart and character a person carries. Many people, even in ministry, desire to become great leaders—seeking influence, respect, authority, and admiration from others. Unfortunately, some Christian leaders want to be seen as untouchable, unquestionable, all-powerful, and even worshipped like spiritual celebrities. As a result, they focus so much on building a powerful image, but neglect the development of their inner man—their person.

But the truth remains: your person is more important than your leadership. In fact, your inner life will always influence the kind of leadership you manifest. If you want to be a God-approved leader, you must first be a God-shaped person. The truly great leaders in the Bible did not pursue greatness—they pursued godliness, and greatness followed.

A. BIBLICAL FOUNDATION FOR PERSONAL GREATNESS

Genesis 4:3–4; 1 Samuel 16:6–7, 18; Matthew 25:21, 26

Your person refers to who you are on the inside—your character, your values, your heart, your integrity, and your capacity for good or evil. You can be a carnal or a Christlike person. You can be cruel or compassionate, selfish or selfless, worldly or Spirit-filled. And all of this affects your walk with God and your service in His house.

For example, in Genesis 4, God rejected Cain himself before He rejected Cain’s sacrifice, and He accepted Abel before accepting his offering. Why? Because God weighs the person before the performance.

Here are key truths to note:

God values your person more than your performance.
Your person will shape the quality of your ministry and leadership.
You will always attract people and build an environment that mirrors who you are.
The kind of leadership you give will flow from the kind of person you are.
If your heart is wrong, even your sacrifice or service will be rejected by heaven.
How you relate with others depends on the kind of person you are inside.
Without the right kind of heart, you will never be truly great in God’s sight.
When God measures a man, He does not use a ruler—He uses the heart as the measuring tape.
Before you can be a great leader, you must first be a good person.

From Abraham to Joseph, Moses to David, Peter to Paul—even Judas—each one’s personal character either empowered or sabotaged their leadership. Their personhood determined whether they were vessels of honour or dishonour (2 Timothy 2:20–21).

B. HOW YOUR INNER LIFE AFFECTS YOUR LEADERSHIP

Proverbs 16:32; 1 Timothy 4:16

There is a saying: “You can’t give what you don’t have.” This is especially true in spiritual leadership. Leadership is not about your seat; it’s about your spirit. You can hold a title and still not lead well if your character is flawed.

Let’s break it down:

A Spirit-filled person will bring spiritual leadership.
A carnal person will bring carnal leadership.
A jealous heart produces a controlling leader.
A hot-tempered person becomes a destructive leader.
An arrogant person leads dictatorially.
A genuinely born-again leader will manifest the fruit of the Spirit.
A disobedient heart creates a rebellious leader.
A dishonest and sly person becomes a manipulative and deceitful leader.
A domineering person becomes insensitive and authoritarian.
An unjust person will lead without fairness or equity.
A weak and spineless person allows the flock to lead him instead of leading the flock.

In essence, the spirit of the leader becomes the spirit of the ministry. What you are inwardly is what you will reproduce outwardly. I’ve seen gifted leaders with enormous potential fall short of divine greatness because their inner life was not aligned with Christ.

Even when leadership principles are in place, if your character is not Christlike, your work will suffer setbacks. There is no shortcut—you must be a Christlike person to build a Christ-centered ministry.

C. QUALITIES OF A GODLY AND GREAT PERSON

1 Samuel 16:18; Acts 11:24

The Bible shows us the kind of person God can trust with great leadership. If you desire to be used mightily by the Lord, these qualities must be cultivated in your life:

Spiritual Insight (Seeing)
Not everyone who has physical sight has spiritual vision. A great person sees what others miss. Vision comes from the Lord, and He must open your eyes to see His divine purpose.
Sense of Divine Purpose
You must know, pursue, and live out God’s plan for your life. Be intentional and purposeful in fulfilling your divine calling.
Servant-Heartedness
The heart of greatness is servanthood. True greatness is found in washing the feet of others (John 13:14). You must be willing to serve without seeking reward or recognition.
Selflessness
Forgetting self and focusing on the needs and growth of others. Just like Jesus, you live not to be served, but to serve.
Sincerity and Integrity
Be honest, dependable, and transparent. People must find you trustworthy both in secret and in the open.
Sacrificial Living
Great persons are givers—not takers. You must be willing to lay down comfort for kingdom purpose. Paul said, “I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls…” (2 Corinthians 12:15).
Seriousness of Spirit
You are not unserious or careless with life. A great person lives soberly, is disciplined, and doesn’t treat life like a joke.
Solution-Oriented
A great person is a kingdom problem-solver—bringing help, healing, and hope to the hurting. You are an answer to someone’s prayer.
Supernatural Connection
A truly great person walks in close communion with the Holy Spirit. Signs, wonders, and kingdom power flow through him to touch others.
Sociability and Compassion
You must relate graciously with people of all ages and classes. Forgive easily, love deeply, and practice patience and humility in relationships.

To be such a person, you must have a genuine salvation experience with Jesus Christ. You must grow in grace, walk in sanctification, and mature daily in your Christian life. You must bear the fruit of the Spirit and let the flesh be crucified (Galatians 5:22–24; 2 Timothy 3:16–17; Titus 2:11–14). God is looking for people who are zealous of good works, and only good people can do good works.

D. TESTS YOU MUST PASS ON YOUR WAY TO SPIRITUAL GREATNESS

Greatness in the Kingdom is not accidental—it is processed by God. Every true leader is taken through seasons of divine preparation, just like David. He was tested, proven, humbled, and trained before ascending the throne. If you desire lasting spiritual impact, you must embrace the tests that make great leaders.

Let’s look at the tests David passed:

The Test of Obscurity
He was hidden in the wilderness, unrecognized by men, but known by God (1 Samuel 16:11–12).
The Test of Menial Tasks
He cared for sheep faithfully, proving his commitment to small assignments (1 Samuel 17:20).
The Test of Being Forgotten
On his day of destiny, his father forgot him, but God remembered him (1 Samuel 16:5,11).
The Test of Faithfulness
He risked his life to protect sheep from lions and bears. God saw his quiet victories (1 Samuel 17:34–36).
The Test of Obedience
He obeyed his father and honored his brothers despite how he was treated (1 Samuel 17:17–18).
The Test of Zeal
He defended God’s name with boldness, even when misunderstood (1 Samuel 17:28–29).
The Test of Servanthood
He served in Saul’s palace long before he sat on the throne (1 Samuel 17:57–58; 1 Samuel 18:5).
The Test of Persecution
Saul tried to kill him, but David remained loyal and humble (1 Samuel 18:9; 1 Samuel 19:1).
The Test of Self-Promotion
He had the chance to take Saul’s life and seize power, but he refused to exalt himself.
The Test of Vengeance
Despite being mistreated, he chose forgiveness and faithfulness to his covenant with Jonathan.
The Test of Hebron
Before becoming king of all Israel, he ruled over Hebron for seven years, learning patience.
The Test of Prosperity
Even after failing with Bathsheba and numbering the people, David repented deeply and returned to God.

No wonder Scripture calls David a man after God’s own heart. His person, not just his position, earned him heaven’s endorsement. If you too will walk in true greatness, you must submit to God’s refining tests and let Him shape you from the inside out.

CONCLUSION

In the Kingdom of God, God promotes based on character, not charisma. Your inner life must be strong, Spirit-led, and sanctified if you are going to provide godly leadership that stands the test of time. God is still searching for leaders after His heart—people whose persons match their positions.

If you want to be a great leader, then become a great person—God’s kind of person.