In Good to Great, Jim Collins presents empirically derived principles for transforming a good organization into a great organization. These principles are succinctly summarized in the sequential phrase “disciplined people, disciplined thinking, disciplined action.”1 The phrase intimates that disciplined people will be disciplined thinkers who will then be disciplined in their actions. The genesis of the progression is disciplined people and the genesis of disciplined people is what Collins calls level five leaders.
Level five leaders display unusual and surprising qualities. Note the description of level five leaders as observed by Collins’ research team.
We were surprised, shocked really, to discover the type of leadership required for turning a good company into a great one. Compared to high-profile leaders with big personalities who make headlines and become celebrities, the good-to-great leaders seem to have come from Mars. Self-effacing, quiet, reserved, even shy—these leaders are a paradoxical blend of personal humility and professional will. They are more like Lincoln and Socrates than Patton or Caesar.2
Among the virtues of level five leaders is the trait of humility. Humility is one of the seminal separators of the good from the great. And, not surprisingly, humility is a Christian virtue.
The entrance of sin into humanity came through pride,3 which is the opposite of humility. It is therefore remarkable that fallen humans can display humility. The fact that humility is observed in level five leaders reveals that, notwithstanding their innate depravity, there is divine grace to empower them (and all mankind) to display some rudimentary level of humility.
Indeed, the Creator expects humans to exercise his grace to live humbly. A seminal text on this point is Micah 6:8:
What does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (ESV)
One way to understand this verse is that humility is a pivotal virtue. Therefore, justice and kindness flow from walking humbly before God.
In reflecting on the life of King Uzziah, one of my associates, Gay Thurman, composed the following reflections about the importance of humility, particularly in leaders.
The account of King Uzziah recorded in 2 Chronicles 26 illustrates many truths about life. God gifted this man with great ability and he was anointed king over Judah at age sixteen. With his promotion came authority, wealth, and opportunity.
His financial resources allowed him to raise livestock, dig wells, train workmen, grow gardens, and engage in international commerce. He also built implements for war and strong defenses for his cities. His military conquests extended to the Egyptian frontier and his fame spread as the “the Lord gave him marvelous help.”4
Marvelous here is the word that describes a supernatural deed, something beyond human potency. In other words, Uzziah was given divine potency to do his work through divine knowledge and wisdom.5 Whether it be craftmanship, leadership, management, or financial stewardship, “God works His purpose by revealing to us what we need to know to do His will.”6
When King Uzziah sought guidance, God gave him success in the natural realm, but this type of success can be a test. To manage success requires humility. But when Uzziah became powerful, his “heart was lifted up” and he became proud. He pridefully stepped across the boundary of his authority; he assumed the right to enter the Temple of God and burn incense contrary to divine prescription. Uzziah presumed that he could act independently of God and change the rules of worship.
Pride leads to thoughts and actions independent of God and, therefore, in rebellion against God. But God will oppose a heart overcome with pride. As Uzziah ranted at the priest who confronted him in the Temple, Uzziah’s body broke out with leprosy. At the end of his life, all Uzziah had accomplished was forgotten; people only remembered that he was a leper.7
With leadership comes the responsibility to serve followers. When leaders act pridefully, there are consequences that can, as in Uzziah’s case, block their potential, tarnish their legacies, and impact followers. The consequences of pride are not always limited to leaders. Sometimes followers suffer as well. Whether it be the ruler of a nation, leader of a business, shepherd of a church body, or head of a family, when the leader fails to walk with God, the leader suffers consequences and, frequently, the followers do as well.
The story of King David illustrates how a leader’s pride can produce devastating consequences for followers. At one point in his long reign, David decided to take a census, which was an act of pride because it revealed that his faith was in himself, not God.8 David trusted in the multitude of his people to measure his strength and define his success. Because of David’s pride, God released a deadly pestilence upon the land and many of David’s followers died. Only after David repented did God stop the carnage.
Given the importance of leaders walking humbly before God, what then should followers do when leaders fail?
- Pray for them!9 Remember that repentance, restoration, and realignment in the hearts of leaders are works of the Holy Spirit. Followers should always humbly pray for leaders.
- Trust that the Lord is always working good (as biblically defined) even amid very challenging circumstances. Never lose sight of this reality. Walk humbly before God in faith.10
For both leaders and followers, humility is an essential virtue and the predicate to real success. While pride might enable short-term success in the natural, humility facilitates true, lasting success that transcends the natural.
Humility is the grace to always serve the purpose of God in every situation and in every person. This is the essence of servant leadership. Jesus taught that whoever would be the greatest must be the servant of all.11 Servant leaders have a servant’s heart. God’s favor flows through servant leaders to transform individuals, families, businesses, churches, and nations.
Like King Uzziah, all of us are given gifts, talents, and opportunities.12 And like Uzziah, when we achieve some measure of success in the natural, we can become proud and act independently of God. When this happens, the result of our pride will be judgment on us and, most likely, on those we lead. We would all be wise to take heed and learn from King Uzziah’s mistake and guard our hearts against the sin of pride.
Thank you, Gay, for these insightful words on the importance of humility. We all need to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with our God.
There is no doubt that Jesus was the archetype of a level five leader. He was humble, submitted, and teachable. He lived a life aligned with the will and ways of God. If you believe that he was the most successful person ever, then imitate him.
If you wish to imitate Jesus, you will live humbly. This means you will live a life aligned with the will and ways of God. You will be a disciplined person who thinks based on the discipline of a biblical worldview and who can then produce disciplined actions—actions aligned with the purpose of God. This is how to live a great life—a successful life—and enjoy an enduring God-honoring legacy. May we all learn to so live and enjoy the fruit of the blessings that flow from walking humbly with our God.
Merry Christmas!
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1. Jim Collins, Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap . . . and Others Don't (HarperCollins, Kindle location 228).
2. Ibid., Kindle Locations 231–234.
3. Genesis 3.
4. 2 Chronicles 26:15 (NLT).
5. Proverbs 1:9.
6. Strategic Life Alignment Seminar Workbook, 2016 edition (unpublished).
7. 2 Chronicles 26:23.
8. 2 Samuel 24.
9. 1 Timothy 2:1–2 and 2 Chronicles 7:14.
10. James 1:2ff.
11. Matthew 20:26.
12. 1 Corinthians 4:7. 
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