In honor of Women's History Month, this post features seven leadership lessons from Ruth, a prominent female in the Bible. Although the suggestions are geared toward women, they can benefit men too.
7 Lessons
Don’t act desperate.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7, New International Version)
Loss creates pressure, pressure creates anxiety, and anxiety can make us do crazy things. If you recall, Ruth's husband died, and instead of returning to her family she remained with her mother-in-law. Nevertheless, Ruth did not allow the stress to govern her thinking.
Be teachable.
This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.
The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. (1 Corinthians 2:13-14, New International Version)
No one enjoys helping a person who is resistant or hardheaded. Nonetheless, Ruth listened and acted on the wisdom of her mother in law and Boaz.
Keep first things first.
Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! (Luke 12:22-24, New International Version)
Look ahead.
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. (Isaiah 43:18-19, New International Version)
Learn the lessons and move forward. Someone said, "Look behind, fall behind."
Behave with decency.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23, New International Version)
Ruth did not run around town looking for her next husband. She waited on God. You should too.
Expect great things.
Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. (Psalm 68:19, New International Version)
Even though loss is painful, it's not the end. God always has more.
Take initiative.
Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth. (Proverbs 10:4, New International Version)
Ruth did not sit on the sidelines waiting for someone to rescue her. She went to work every day. In fact, her work ethic attracted the wealthiest man in the area.
Bonus
Download your FREE Everything Leadership Workbook. Here's the link: https://sdharbin.wixsite.com/everythingleadership/ebooks
Write to Stephanie Harbin at sdharbin@yahoo.com.
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