Review 2025.03.009
Reviewers Note: It is the beginning of 2025 and one of the skills I desire to grow in is that of writing book reviews (having never done this before). I am doing this so I can better hone my writing (and reading) skills as I seek to think more critically about the books I am reading. I am sharing on Goodreads for my own personal development. I know this will be something I am always growing in so if you actually read these, please be patient with me as I develop this skill. I will also receive constructive criticism if you desire to help me become a better writer (and reader). I plan to use this disclaimer for the entire 2025 year.
The Character of Leadership by Jeff Iorg
240 Pages
This was a really good Christian leadership book. It was short and an easy read. Nothing overly complicated. An encouragement for me to be sure.
One of the quotes I did not highlight but should have was “Lord, I serve at your pleasure. Use me, or not, whatever pleases you.” I have shortened this for my journal to just “Use me or not” and sometimes I add “I serve at the behest of my King.” because I love the word behest. Can we bring that back into common use?
Most, if not all, of the chapters were impactful but chapter two “Maintaining Integrity” and chapter five “Learning Humility” were the two that did the most work in my life. Even among those two, the one about humility was the most needed in my life at that point in time. And if I read it again, probably then too.
In that chapter, he talks about a key question and pulls the question straight from 1 Corinthians 4:7 where the Apostle Paul asks “What do I have that I did not receive?” What indeed? Nothing. All the life experiences and gifts I have are a gift from God, so I can boast in nothing. Pride is one of the hardest sins to overcome. It actually seems impossible but there are things we can do to grow in humility which he lists in the chapter.
Some of those ways include developing a teachable spirit, giving others credit, developing thankfulness, and of course praying and asking for prayer. They all sound easy but they are not. I was trying to determine which one was the most difficult of those four (or five – depending on how we count) but found myself waffling on that. Needless to say, I am working on all the ways to grow and choose humility.
I highly recommend this to Christian leaders and Christians who want to become leaders (even though technically we are all leaders already).