It would be easy to say that the
culture we live in has bred us to not trust one another, because someone is
always out to get one over on you. I would dare to say that it has to do with
the fact that we are all totally depraved people and without Christ we cannot
dare trust ourselves. In chapter 7 of Romans the Apostle Paul summed up the
struggle we face when he said,
For I do not
understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing
I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good.
So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know
that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to
do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good
I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I
do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. (Romans
7:15-20 ESV)
This makes it extremely difficult to trust those who are in
leadership positions because we have no certainty that they have our best
interest in mind when they are making their decisions. While in his book Being Leaders Aubrey Malphurs claims
that it will usually take up to five years to trust a new leader. It is this
writers humble opinion that this period does not have to be anywhere near that
length. If you enter into a situation with new leadership you can determine their
character within a matter of months to a year. Are they self-serving? Or do
they sacrifice some comfort on their part for the greater good?
Over years of working
in different environments I have noticed that the bosses who are willing to
show someone how to do the job more efficiently or even in the correct manner
without being brash or degrading get more respect which in return breeds trust.
Humility is another key to the character of the leader that will always play an
important role. If our Lord can take on the lowest place in the house to
demonstrate His heart, what makes us any better?
