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Cedarville Magazine
something of value — whether it’s a life, a marriage, a family, a
ministry, or a business.
We are in no position to make a contract with God in which
we follow a set formula that obligates Him to bless us accordingly.
He is sovereign and determines how He intervenes in this fallen
world. We do our best to do the right things for the right reasons,
and we trust God to produce the right outcomes. Right behind
that is constantly reminding ourselves that the right outcomes are
defined by His perspective, not ours.
How should a biblical leader think about legacy?
Every marketplace leader wants to leave a lasting legacy. Success
centered in fame and fortune rarely satisfies, and it quickly fades.
Money, while important, is inherently and pervasively dangerous.
When not handled carefully, it can be a character-eroding cancer
that quietly destroys our lives and those we love.
The relationship of the Trinity is the core of God’s essence.
Because we are created inHis image, we have a deep yearning within
our souls for the kind of loving relationships He enjoys. Our deepest
needs and greatest desires are fulfilled in loving relationship with
Him and with others. Biblical leadership links a living faith and a
loving life. Leadership centered on loving and caring relationships
leaves a legacy that lasts forever.
Daryle Doden
is a lifelong entrepreneur who founded Ambassador
Steel Corporation with four partners in 1974. He is currently the
CEO of Ambassador Enterprises, a private equity firm investing in
for-profit and not-for-profit ventures. He is a graduate of Moody
Bible Institute and Bethel College, and he previously served on the
board of Cedarville University. He and his wife, Brenda, are the
parents of five grown children, three of whom are Cedarville alumni.
Steve Gardner
is an author, editor, executive coach (CPC),
and songwriter. He leads Ambassador Press, the research and
communication arm of Ambassador Enterprises.
Respect is seeing the uniqueness of individuals, getting to know
who they are and what they value. It is knowing them as people and
caring for them as I would my own family members. It is learning
to listen well and love better. Caring about others for their own
sake is essential to biblical leadership. Lack of caring, whether
real or perceived, undermines the effectiveness of many otherwise
competent leaders.
Your third value, “work hard,” seems rather obvious, but what do you
mean by it?
Solomon wrote, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your
might” (Ecc. 9:10). It is putting forth maximum effort into being
productive and creating value. It is becoming a net contributor
rather than a net consumer, and it is doing that with excellence.
You haven’t said much about convincing people of truth.
Trying to convince others of truth is not as effective as showing
others truth by how you live. Our power as biblical leaders comes
not so much from our positions as from the moral authority of
walking the talk — living out our values with authenticity and
transparency.
What are some other things you have learned?
Biblical leadership is like playing golf. Everyone seems to have an
opinion how others should or could improve their game. Few, if
any, of the “teachers” are scratch golfers themselves; they just have
opinions on how someone else should play the game.
With biblical leadership, many more “experts” are telling leaders
how they ought to be leading in the marketplace than are actually
doing it. It is always easier to tell someone how to do something
than it is to do it ourselves.
Biblical leadership is challenging in any environment, but it is
particularly tough in the competitive marketplace. While I want to
be “salt and light” as I go about my marketplace endeavors, I need to
make money. Balancing the duality of compassion and competition
is not easy, and it’s never automatic.
You have built a quality company over the long haul, through varying
economic climates, and you have done so while holding to biblical
principles. What formula can you share with us?
There are no pat formulas. Lofty ideals are everywhere, but unless
they are successfully executed, they contribute little to building
