Do you secretly believe you’re the strongest link to your organization, church, or team? Good thing they have you, right? If they didn’t, things would implode.

This is early onset Bruce Wayne Syndrome.

For Batman’s alter-ego, a normal day in Gotham City is spent schmoozing with CEO’s and listening to celebrities gab about politics. He puts up with it okay; except on frustrating days. The days when a street cop or two takes a jab at the Dark Knight.  That’s when the Syndrome makes his mind seethe with resentment.

“If you only knew what I’m capable of…” he’d think, as they blabbered on about their opinion.

“If you really knew what I brought to this city, it’d be all you could do not to fall all over me.”

I battle Bruce Wayne Syndrome as well. And anytime the virus seeps into my heart, I inoculate myself with this Scripture before it’s too late.

Romans 12:3
For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.

When it comes to leading in an organization, two freeing realities emerge from this verse:

1. Your value is dependent on God’s saving grace as His adopted son/daughter.
2. Your leadership, while valuable, is also replaceable. (Even if you really are the strongest link)

Meditate on Romans 12:3 until those two things are true in your life. Otherwise, Bruce Wayne Syndrome might send you to the hospital.

For a helpful (and short) book, check out Tim Keller’s The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness.  You can also listen to the audio version in 40 minutes.