“All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and He gives them to each one, just as He determines.” – 1Co 12:11

Patrick Lencioni , a New York Times best-selling author once said, “The only way to build trust is to overcome our need for invulnerability (i.e., we can accomplish anything).” The first dysfunction of a team is absence of trust which can be due to people need for invulnerability. Unconsciously we use invulnerability as a shield to protect us from discomfort, anxiety and self-doubt. Hence having a sense of invulnerability could be considered a positive cultural characteristic or capability. However the bible clearly teaches us to trust each other with different gifts, so as to grow and build the body up in love as each parts does its works. (Eph 4:16)

As a matter of fact, God never gives anyone all the gifts so that we need to be inter-dependent in one body. God gives gifts to each one just as He determines so that not all has the same giftings (1Co 12:29-30). We need each other to accomplish the vision the Lord has given us, as a team, and no one can achieve it alone. When a leader doesn’t have the right identity in Christ, he will feel insecure and will not trust others in the team to respond to their callings. His insecurity will eventually lead to the loss of his integrity with the team.

Even Jesus as a Son of God refused to something spectacular to prove his invulnerability, as shown in Luke 4:9-12. One of the deadliest scheme of the devil is pride, to give you a sense of invulnerability, that you do not need the help of others. Pride is an abomination in the eyes of the Lord. God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. (James 4:6) God will use spiritually Faithful, Available, and Teachable people to do His work. Let us humbly respond to His calling by working as an effective team to fulfill His plan and purpose. Hallelujah!

Let’s pray.

Lord, thank you for your grace and mercy to call me as part of your Kingdom plan and purpose. Please help me to overcome my need of invulnerability in order to build genuine trust in my team. Amen.

Before we go, take a look at the questions below:

1. What does invulnerability mean to you? Why are many people influenced by this mindset?

2. What effects can a leader who tries to play an "omnipotent" role have on a team? Why is it said that a leader's insecurity can lead to a loss of integrity within the team?

3. How can one recognize and deal with "pride"? How is it related to the psychological need to "create a perfect persona"?