I defined the term "chief" in the 1828 Noah Webster Dictionary:
Chief = Highest in office or rank; principal or most eminent, in any quality or action; most distinguished; having most influence; commanding most respect; taking the lead; most valuable; most important; a word of extensive use; first in affection; most dear and familiar. A commander; particularly a military commander; the person who heads an army; equivalent to the modern terms, commander or general in chief, captain general, or generalissimo.
- Rank = Grade of official standing, as in the army, navy, or nobility; An aggregate of individuals classed together; a permanent social class; an order; a division; degree of dignity, eminence, or excellence.
- Principal = A leader, chief, or head; one who takes the lead; one who acts independently, or who has controlling authority or influence.
- Leader = One who, or that which, leads or conducts; a guide; a conductor.
- Authority = Legal power, or a right to command or to act; as the authority of a prince over subjects, and of parents over children. Power; rule; sway; The power derived from opinion, respect or esteem; influence of character or office; credit; as the authority of age or example, which is submitted to or respected.
- Distinguished = Separated or known by a mark of difference, or by different qualities; separated from others by superior or extraordinary qualities; whence, eminent; extraordinary; transcendent; noted; famous; celebrated.
- Qualities = Disposition; temper. Acquirement; accomplishment; character. Superior rank; Persons of high rank, collectively.
- Character = By way of eminence, distinguished or good qualities; those which are esteemed and respected; and those which are ascribed to a person in common estimation. Adventitious qualities impressed by office, or station; the qualities that, in public estimation, belong to a person in a particular station.
- Influence = To move by moral power; to act on and affect, as the mind or will, in persuading or dissuading; to induce. To lead or direct.
- Move = To persuade; to prevail on; to excite from a state of rest or indifference. To propose; to recommend.
- Lead = To conduct, as a chief or commander, implying authority; to direct and govern; to precede; to introduce by going first; To draw; to entice; to allure.
- Govern = To direct and control, as the actions or conduct of men, either by established laws or by arbitrary will; to regulate by authority; to keep within the limits prescribed by law or sovereign will.
- Respect = Regard; attention; that estimation or honor in which men hold the distinguished worth or substantial good qualities of others; good will; favor.
- Affection = Passion; desire; inclination.
- Commander = A chief; one who has supreme authority; a leader.
Secondly, I found Scripture to go with those key words. From Scripture, we can determine that the Lord is in control and is our main authority. We seek Him for direction! :
Zechariah 3: 7 … “This is what the Lord Almighty says: 'If you will walk in my ways and keep my requirements, then you will govern my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you a place among these standing here.”
Romans 12: 7-8 … “If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.”
Proverbs 11:16 … “A kindhearted woman gains respect, but ruthless men gain only wealth.”
Ephesians 6:5, 9 … Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. … And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.”
1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 … “Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other.”
Daniel 6:3 … “Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.”
Deuteronomy 1:15 … “So I took the leading men of your tribes, wise and respected men, and appointed them to have authority over you--as commanders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens and as tribal officials.”
Deuteronomy 17:10 … “You must act according to the decisions they give you at the place the Lord will choose. Be careful to do everything they direct you to do.”
Psalm 119:35 … “Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight.”
Joel 2:11 … “The Lord thunders at the head of his army; his forces are beyond number, and mighty are those who obey his command.”
2 Timothy 2:3-4 … “Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs-he wants to please his commanding officer.”
Lastly, by using these key words and what I learned from them, I defined the word "Chief" for myself and personalized it for her. We can look at this definition and see how our character can reflect Christ:
CHIEF
A “Chief” describes a person who has supreme authority,
being given a grade of an official and distinguished standing.
A person who achieves this rank is one of
excellence, respect, honor and favor,
as she desires to be an influence to those under her command.
She is a leader and a guide,
using her extraordinary qualities of character and authority.
She is one who takes the lead with the most respect
and is given honor in her accomplishments.
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