Stories Bring Commands to Life
Building a flywheel of success for life and career
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind... Love your neighbor as yourself.” — Matthew 22:37, 39
As leaders, we are often called to both zoom in and zoom out. Sometimes we are handed a directive, a clear instruction or principle that guides what to do. It may seem simple at first, but when entering a new domain, that simplicity can feel confusing. We need examples, context, and even cautionary tales to make sense of the command.
That is why Scripture gives us both commandments and stories. Jesus condensed the entire law into two commandments. But the rest of the Bible—David’s courage, Daniel’s discipline, Ruth’s loyalty—fleshes out what obedience looks like in real life.
David loved the Lord both as a shepherd and a king. As a shepherd, he sang to the Lord and defended His name against Goliath. As a king, he set aside his royal dignity and celebrated openly in God’s presence when the ark was brought into Jerusalem. Daniel loved the Lord by refusing royal food, and later by choosing to pray even when it became illegal. Each story is a living portrait of what it means to love God fully.
In my own shift from software development to sales support, I was once told, “Make the prospect smile.” It sounded vague. Was I supposed to crack a joke? In the beginning? Or at the end? Should I make a joke about them? Should I learn short jokes just for this purpose? I had no idea. But as I studied and practiced, I saw what it really meant: use humor wisely to build trust. The safest option is usually a self-deprecating joke. Never joke about the client or their situation. Today, I no longer need all the books and frameworks. I just remember the directive. Behind it lives a library of lessons.
Learn through stories. Remember with directives.
# Action Items
- Reflect on one area where you are learning a new directive. What examples or stories can help you understand it better?
- Revisit a biblical narrative that illustrates a command you already know.
- Try expressing one core leadership truth you now live by in a single, memorable phrase.