Failed Leadership

Failed Leadership

“Your brother is back . . . and your father has killed the fattened calf. We are celebrating because of his safe return.” The older brother was angry and wouldn’t go in. Luke 15:27-28

It’s one of the most familiar stories in the Bible, the parable of the Prodigal Son. A father has two sons. One day the younger son asks for his inheritance on the spot, essentially saying to his father, “You’re dead in my mind, and I’m out of here.” Most of the time, the younger son gets star billing in a discussion about this story; after all, he makes a mess of his life, then comes to his senses and returns home.

Equally significant is the father’s response when the younger son returns, a picture of God’s response to us as our heavenly Father. The father is filled with compassion, patience, and grace—even for a son who, frankly, doesn’t deserve it. Sound familiar?

But what about the older brother? Was his anger justified? Sometimes I wonder if he may have been partially responsible for his younger brother’s rebellion. No one was in a better position than the older brother to mentor his younger sibling. Where was his leadership? We don’t know if the older brother reinforced his father’s goals and ideals or if he tried to counsel his younger brother and stop him from running out on the family. But I wonder what might have happened if he had truly taken his brother under his wing.

Fathers aren’t the only possible mentors in a child’s life. And it isn’t up to teachers, coaches, and supervisors to always be responsible and take the lead. Sometimes it falls to older siblings because they are in the best position. All of us can fill that mentoring role at some time. All of us can step up and offer leadership. We all can nurture lives of value and create “coaching trees” of people whose lives we have affected.

And it doesn’t have to be a biological sibling, either. I spoke to the Minnesota Vikings at their chapel service before a game, making just that point. Too often we wait on coaches or others in “authority” to lead, but leadership opportunities are all around us.

Act on them.

Uncommon Key > Have the right attitude about being a “big brother” to someone and mentoring them. When you touch the lives of the people right around you, you increase the number of potential leaders exponentially.