We all strive for some type of leadership. Whether leadership in the classroom, leadership on our athletic team, leadership in our youth group, or leadership at work. Young student-athletes watch the captain and coaches meeting before basketball games and dream about one day being a part of those. When in reality, those who are a part of those meetings realize they are nothing special.
Joshua 24:15 states, "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." In this passage, we see a seasoned leader giving a challenge to the people he has led for many years. Some questions come to my mind when I think about this verse: How was he able to challenge the people like this? How did he have their respect?
Let’s briefly look at an example in the life of Joshua and take one principle of leadership he demonstrated throughout his life.
Joshua as a man is best known as Moses’ second in command. Joshua is considered one of the Bible’s greatest military leaders, and is often held up as a model for leadership. The first time we see Joshua in the Bible is in Exodus 17.
Exodus 17:8-10 reads, "Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim. And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand. So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill."
What was Joshua’s response to the task asked of him? He did what he was told. An aspect of becoming a leader in athletics is a willingness to do what you are told. How do you respond when told to do something whether by a coach, team captain, referee, etc? Joshua was asked to do something that looked unfavorable, if not impossible. He did not argue with this authority, he did not question his authority, he did not vent about it on social media or to friends, and he did not make himself out to be some victim in a society that was out to get him.
He simply did what he was told.
Can you be counted on to do what you are told? Coaches sometimes wonder why they cannot trust a player to do better on the court, or even do more for the team. And yet, if young people are not trustworthy to do what they need to do in the classroom, the workplace, or in relationships, why should a coach be surprised when he or she cannot get more out of that player on the court?
Doing what we are told is part of athletic leadership, but where does Biblical athletic leadership start? Joshua was always found around spiritual things - at the temple, spiritual leaders, aside to pray. There was an obvious heart for God and spiritual things. He had a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Where does this relationship start? It starts with salvation. What is your relationship with Jesus Christ? What are you trusting in to get you to Heaven? A student-athlete cannot have true Biblical athletic leadership without first accepting Christ as Savior.
Athletics is an avenue to learn leadership. A student-athlete must first learn to do what is expected and told of him. An athlete who demonstrates this ability will soon find himself taking on more responsibilities on the team, along with having a greater ability to serve and mentor the other members of the team.
Written by Sam Prusak, BBCS Athletic Director
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