Professor Johan Roux, President (CEO)
Self-leadership is the practice of consciously influencing oneself to achieve desired outcomes. From a Christian perspective, self-leadership is not merely an exercise in personal development; it is a response to God's call to live wisely, purposefully, and faithfully. It involves self-examination, personal responsibility, and spiritual maturity, grounded in the belief that Christ dwells within the believer. Thus, Christian self-leadership is both an act of stewardship over one’s life and an act of obedience to God.
The ancient world, too, recognised the importance of self-awareness and disciplined living. Socrates famously declared, "The unexamined life is not worth living", as recorded in Plato’s Apology (38a5–6). Socrates’ statement came during his trial for impiety and corrupting the youth of Athens, a trial that ended in his execution. His words underline the vital importance of reflective living — an idea that resonates with Christian teaching, though Christians understand this examination not simply as philosophical inquiry but as a spiritual discipline before God.
Similarly, the Delphic maxims, inscribed on the Temple of Apollo at Delphi, offer ancient wisdom that aligns with Christian ideas of self-leadership. The first maxim, "Know thyself," is one of the most famous sayings of the ancient world. It is best known as one of the Delphic maxims — a set of 147 aphorisms associated with the Temple of Apollo at Delphi in ancient Greece. Above the entrance to the temple, three maxims were famously inscribed:
Among these, "Know thyself" held particular prominence. It urged individuals to reflect deeply on their own nature, limitations, and responsibilities. In a religious and philosophical sense, it meant recognising the human condition: acknowledging one's mortality, avoiding hubris (pride against the gods), and understanding one's role within the cosmic order.
The Bible’s teaching on self-leadership is explicit. In 2 Corinthians 13:5 (ESV), Paul urges, "Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? — unless indeed you fail to meet the test!" Here, self-examination is not merely introspection but a critical spiritual exercise. Believers must assess whether their lives reflect the presence and lordship of Christ. Such examination is essential for personal growth and faithful witness.
In short, biblical self-leadership is about leading oneself under God’s authority, empowered by His Spirit, toward Christlike maturity and faithful living.
Similarly, Galatians 6:4 (NIV) instructs, "Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else." Christian self-leadership therefore involves a healthy sense of responsibility, where one's evaluation is rooted not in comparison or competition, but in faithfulness to God's calling. This is a profound counter-cultural message in an age often obsessed with external validation and rivalry.
Christian self-leadership is, at its core, a journey of living under Christ’s lordship. It calls for intentional practices such as prayer, reflection, accountability, and goal-setting, not as ends in themselves, but as means of cooperating with the Spirit's work of transformation. It means choosing habits that foster spiritual growth, stewarding one’s time, talents, and resources wisely, and committing to personal holiness.
Importantly, Christian self-leadership recognises human limitations and the necessity of grace. While secular models of self-leadership may emphasise autonomy and self-sufficiency, Christians understand that true transformation comes from abiding in Christ (John 15:5). Self-leadership, therefore, is not about self-reliance but about Christ-reliance — daily surrendering control to the One who leads perfectly.
Self-leadership, from a biblical perspective, is not about self-reliance or personal ambition but about living under God's authority, stewarding oneself wisely, and becoming increasingly Christlike. The Bible teaches that leading oneself well is a necessary part of following God and serving others. Several key themes emerge:
The Bible encourages regular reflection and honest assessment of one’s life and faith:
Christian self-leadership requires continual spiritual "check-ins," ensuring that one's motives, behaviours, and decisions align with the teachings of Christ.
Self-leadership demands intentional discipline, particularly over one’s desires, thoughts, and actions.
Without self-control, leadership over others or one's circumstances becomes unstable.
The Bible teaches that each person is entrusted with time, talents, and opportunities, for which they are responsible before God.
Self-leadership involves wisely managing all aspects of life — physical, emotional, spiritual, and relational — in service to God's purposes.
Jesus exemplified perfect self-leadership: he lived with intentionality, prayerfulness, and complete submission to the Father’s will.
True self-leadership means leading oneself by following Christ.
Self-leadership in the Bible is not directionless — it is aimed at fulfilling God’s call and purposes.
Christians are urged to live intentionally and wisely, discerning God's will and acting upon it.
While self-leadership involves personal effort, it is ultimately dependent on God's empowering grace.
Thus, biblical self-leadership is a partnership: human responsibility undergirded by divine empowerment.
Summary
The Bible teaches that self-leadership is:
In conclusion, Christian perspectives on self-leadership affirm the value of self-examination and disciplined living, much like the wisdom traditions of ancient Greece. Yet Christianity offers a richer, grace-filled framework: to know oneself is to know oneself in Christ; to lead oneself is to follow Christ more closely. In this way, self-leadership becomes not a solitary quest, but a faithful pilgrimage guided by the Word and empowered by the Spirit, with the ultimate goal of glorifying God in every area of life.