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Christmas shopping, though somewhat subdued because of the current global economic challenges, is one of the season’s traditional highlights. Churches, which house more than a third of the world population, champion spiritual preparations.

Carols, pantomimes and nativity plays prepare the mind and spirit for Christmas. So it should be, because the man whose birthday the world celebrates at Christmas each year, no longer walks the earth. Connection with him is spiritual. There are two sides to the story of Christmas. One is about a season with family, for well-wishing, gift-giving, eating, and overall merriment.
The other side is about commemoration of the beginning of the life of Jesus Christ. The man, whose birthday is joyful to many, remains the most popular man to have walked on earth and remain so, even today, more than two thousand years later. It is a wonder how one man could captivate the whole world, not with material wealth.

It is necessary to reflect on what made Jesus’ business thrive for more than 2000 years now? What business is it? What wisdom can leadership gain from the life of Jesus, for sustainability? One aspect in the life of Jesus that is not commonly talked about or celebrated is his leadership style. I call it sustainability leadership. At age 33, Jesus left a thriving legacy which has benefited generations upon generations of millions and millions of people, both living and dead, across races and borders.

The Centre for Sustainability Leadership describes sustainability leadership as the skill of driving and influencing change towards a sustainable future.
This skill can be found in the Great Commission, which is the baton Jesus passed on to the world through his disciples, to preach good news to the poor, with love and peace. Love and peace sustains Christmas as a time for family and giving. It is a holiday respected by both Christians and non-Christians, where all expect love through family and friends.

That spells out the fact that people across nations respond positively to love and peace. What has not been mastered is the skill to sustain this peace, beyond Christmas season. World leadership is in need of skills to drive and influence others to change and embrace peace. This skill, I believe is embedded in the study of the short, but powerful life of Jesus Christ.
His ministry stands out as the only one with a business that has lasted for so long, that is multi-cultural, multi-dimensional, multi-generational and multi-national and remains strong, resilient and celebrated.

A sustainable future is what the just ended Conference of Parties to climate change, “COP 17” in Durban was about. World leaders were being persuaded to understand that climate change created by greenhouse gas emissions and linked to global warming, was a now, not a future event. Leaders were reminded by Christiana Figueres, the Executive Secretary of United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, that the vulnerable need solutions from leaders and that future generations need visionary legacies from the current leadership. Sustainability leadership is a practice and not a destination or position. Therefore, while the establishment of the Green Climate Fund, for instance was key at COP 17, the world needs more.

It needs a leadership which appreciates that the whole humanity is facing sustainability challenges and therefore, there is need for change towards pathways which prevent tragic environmental exploitation, vicious economic policies and practices, inequality and social moral decay.
A transformative leadership which is able to improve and transform societies and their systems continuously for the good of all, and a leadership which is able to create masses of leaders and followers who are prepared to pay the price now, for future generations.

The foundations of the Ministry of Jesus Christ had a built-in unique vision for the future. More than 2 000 years on, this legacy is growing, is celebrated and also attracts controversy. First wisdom gained through the life of Jesus is that leadership must be deliberate about good deeds for others and future generations to benefit. Humility is the foundation of sustainability leadership.
Nativity scene, an illustration of the birth of Jesus and first created by St Francis of Assisi in 1223, is characterised by, among others; no room in the inn, a manger, mother, father , wise man from the

East, gifts, a donkey etc. The life of this most popular “birthday boy”, was indeed humble from the beginning. First his mission was not to enjoy his father’s wealth, but rather as the Book of Luke says, to preach the gospel to the poor; heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to captives, recovering of sight to the blind and to set the captives free. His mission was about others.
Knowing and walking in one’s purpose is the goal, and gifts and rewards follow. It is when trouble comes, that a leader in control is realised.

Troubles being faced across the globe, in economics, the environment, socio-political areas, are exposing the weaknesses in what had been long idolised as super powers. Panic and irrational decision making are a sign that one is not in control. Sustainability leadership style in the life of Jesus is seen in many instances, even at the time of his death. Surrounded by temperamental disciples, such as Peter, Jesus was in control, when he replaced an ear which Peter had cut off, or when Peter denied him three times. When he changed water into wine, Jesus had seen a need, knew he was in charge and had the power to provide the solution. Sustainable future is also dependent on the amount of faith that sustainability leadership has, as well as the quality of that faith. Christmas is a faith based story.

Mary the mother of Jesus had faith that even if circumstances did not make sense for her to have an immaculate conception and give birth to a child, Emmanuel, she was good with the announcement.
She trusted the source. This type of wisdom and faith is required in building a sustainable future. Faith must be based on vision and pronouncements made by those in authority.

It takes a relationship in order to trust that authority.
Jesus himself in setting up his first “board of directors”, the disciples, understood that he was on earth for his father’s business, he prayed so that he could have the right wisdom in choosing his followers.

Jesus’ first “board of directors” was made up of men of varied characters, competencies and skills, but each was a leader on a mission with Jesus.
Not always an easy bunch to handle, with the likes of Peter, Thomas and the ultimate Judas Iscariot, it took power and control for Jesus to work with this lot.

Peter would deny him three times even after bragging to be the closest, the back biting between Peter and John, and being sold out for a few pieces of silver, by Judas, in all that Jesus did not lose focus and control.
The disciples were certainly not “yes men”, a phenomenon which is burdening governance systems.
Sustainability is about long term. Relationships are tried and tested along the way, people are tempted and rejected. But wisdom must remind sustainability leadership that, no prophet is accepted in his

hometown, as Christ taught upon being rejected by his own.
Great visionaries such as the Ugandan Martyrs understood the need to pay a price for the benefit of others. I am fully persuaded that there is no sustainable future, without selflessness. The cost for today’s widespread culture of immediate gratification is being deferred to future generations. Should it not be the other way round, for sustainability?

Servant leadership can only be practiced from an authentic and humble heart. Humility, which is sometimes mistaken for weakness requires that sustainability leadership focuses on a higher vision for the benefit of others. Meekness, which is a counterpart to humility, is translated to mean “power under control.”

The strongest man who ever lived, and had the most sustainable business manifested the most powerful leadership skills through the quality of humility and it started at Christmas.

• The writer is a researcher and governance consultant.