He who has never learned to obey cannot be a good commander. — Aristotle

Obedience is the ultimate test of a great man who has the greatest leadership potential. Strict and unswerving obedience is what make a honorable soldier, a high performing athlete, and a sold-out disciple of Christ. And it is this type of obedience that demonstrates the awareness of one who has come to terms with with their own frail existence and shallow perspective. This is the man that God seeks. The man who chooses not an independent self-serving life apart from God but chooses to move willing into slavery to Christ.

For am I now trying to win the favor of people, or God? Or am I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave of Christ. — Galatians 1:10

Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. — 2 Timothy 2:3-6