I’m guessing you’ve had some great leaders during your lifetime. You can probably think of people like your parents, big brothers or sisters, teachers, coaches, and a few bosses you’ve had over your years. But I’m also presuming that some of those people weren’t necessarily the best leaders or the most influential people in your life. Great leaders aren’t made by their position but by their influence. Good leaders don’t lead by their position, they lead in their position. Good leaders lead not by appointment but by anointment.

Let’s go back to 1 Samuel 16 where David is anointed as the next King of Israel. God has rejected Saul as King and sends the prophet Samuel to Bethlehem to anoint the new king. Jesse’s son, Eliab, steps forward first. He is tall, dark and handsome – a combination that’s good on any king, right? Wrong. God tells Samuel he’s looking on the outside appearance and not the heart on the inside. Eliab is not the next king. And neither are any of the other of Jesse’s sons that present themselves to Samuel. Until the youngest arrives. He was out in the fields taking care of the sheep and goats when Samuel sent for him. And there David is anointed as the new King of Israel. It was quite a ceremony to see. Complete with the pouring of oil and a rush of the Lord’s Spirit. Anointing literally means smeared. David was smeared in oil and most importantly in God’s presence.

But it would take at least 15 more years for David to be appointed as king. David was anointed but not yet appointed. And do you know what David did during these 15 years? He served Saul. He killed Goliath. He led the people of Israel into battle. While not yet having the appointment as King of Israel, he used the anointing placed on him to influence the people. And once he was finally appointed, he continued to use his anointing to lead the people.

Leadership has very little to do with position and everything to do with influence. Yes, positions come our way. We are parents, brothers and sisters, teachers, coaches, bosses, etc. Are we leading by our position or in our position? Often, we find ourselves waiting for position – a particular job, title or promotion – and don’t realize our greatest opportunity to influence comes in the waiting. It’s in the anointment, not the appointment that great leadership happens. Ask God for the anointing – the smearing of His presence in your life – and let it rub off on everyone you come in contact with regardless of your position!