Language Matters
Privilege.
A word that has been turned into a label, an accusation.
But for most of human history, that was not the case. Privilege was understood to be something we earned, protected, and carried responsibly.
Somewhere along the way, it became radioactive.
Like many terms in our cultural moment, privilege has been redefined to serve a narrow narrative. It is now often framed as something inherently unjust, something to apologize for, something to dismantle rather than something to understand.
That framing is historically thin and leadership-poor.
Originally, privilege had a simple meaning: a benefit enjoyed by an individual or group beyond what is available to others.
That is not a moral judgment. It is a description of reality.
And for most of history, that benefit (privilege) was something people worked toward – with an understanding that said benefit carried with it a sense of responsibility once attained.
There was a time when owning a car was considered a privilege. So was owning a home. So were new shoes, a formal education, a stable income, or access to opportunity beyond subsistence survival.
Not everyone had those things. Many never would. And there certainly wasn't any expectation that they should be given to us.
Once these privileges were attained, the quest continued – for second vehicles, better jobs, higher education, homes in safer neighborhoods, etc...
Yes, there were downsides to those pursuits. There always are and always will be.
But there was also something deeply healthy and noble underneath them: provision, stability, improvement, and care for family and community.
That is the purer essence of privilege.
Privilege was not something to deny. It was something to pursue, and then something to carry responsibly.
The modern breakdown happens when privilege is separated from effort, responsibility, and stewardship.
When what was once seen as something earned through discipline, sacrifice, and long-term thinking is reframed as entitlement or a presumed “right” that should be guaranteed without cost, we lose something essential.
Gratitude erodes. Accountability weakens. Stewardship disappears.
To be clear, this is not a denial of human dignity. Every person bears inherent worth as an image-bearer of God.
But provision, safety, stability, and opportunity have never been automatic outcomes of mere existence. Historically, they were built, protected, and sustained through responsibility and contribution.
For the vast majority of human existence, basic needs were something people fought for, built toward, and guarded carefully.
Survival itself is not guaranteed. It is the reward of learning how to live, work, adapt, and contribute.
This is a harsh reality, a sobering truth.
When we forget this, we begin to lead our lives from assumption and expectation rather than with responsibility.
And that is where the language and attitude around privilege can become dangerous.
Every executive leader reading this holds a level of privilege others do not.
Access.
Influence.
Information.
Margin.
Authority.
Resources.
Opportunity.
The question is not whether that is fair. The real question for you and me to consider is: Am I stewarding my privilege well?
Consider a simple example. A senior leader has access to information others do not. That access can be used to protect people through clarity and foresight, or to consolidate power through selective silence.
The privilege is the same. The stewardship is not.
When privilege is treated as something to apologize for rather than something to manage wisely, leadership erodes.
Leaders either shrink under misplaced guilt or detach under the blanket of quiet entitlement. Both paths end poorly.
Scripture is remarkably clear on this point.
“From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” – Luke 12:48 NIV
These are the words of Jesus.
Privilege is not condemnation. It is assignment.
It is not about shame or apology or class warfare.
It is about responsibly carrying the weight of it all.
Healthy leaders do not deny their advantages, nor do they weaponize them. They acknowledge them honestly and carry them deliberately.
Privilege, properly understood, creates responsibility:
Responsibility to build, not extract
Responsibility to develop others, not just oneself
Responsibility to protect culture, not just performance
Responsibility to leave systems stronger than they were found
This is where mature leadership lives.
Not in pretending everyone starts from the same place. Not in apologizing for success. But in stewarding advantage with humility, discipline, and purpose.
The most dangerous leaders are not those with privilege, but those who refuse to acknowledge the weight that comes with it.
Here is a simple diagnostic question for executive leaders:
How does your privilege benefit people beyond you?
If the answer is unclear, privilege has likely drifted toward entitlement.
If the answer is intentional and concrete, privilege is doing its proper work.
Reclaiming the word matters because reclaiming our God-given responsibility matters.
Privilege is not the problem.
Neglecting responsible stewardship could be.
Blessings to you, my friends!
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This Week’s Resource Recommendation:
"The Servant: A Simple Story About the True Essence of Leadership"
- James C. Hunter
From Amazon: In this absorbing tale, you watch the timeless principles of servant leadership unfold through the story of John Daily, a businessman whose outwardly successful life is spiraling out of control. He is failing miserably in each of his leadership roles as boss, husband, father, and coach. To get his life back on track, he reluctantly attends a weeklong leadership retreat at a remote Benedictine monastery.
To John's surprise, the monk leading the seminar is a former business executive and Wall Street legend. Taking John under his wing, the monk guides him to a realization that is simple yet profound: The true foundation of leadership is not power, but authority, which is built upon relationships, love, service, and sacrifice.
Along with John, you will learn that the principles in this book are neither new nor complex. They don't demand special talents; they are simply based on strengthening the bonds of respect, responsibility, and caring with the people around you. The Servant's message can be applied by anyone, anywhere—at home or at work.
If you are tired of books that lecture instead of teach; if you are searching for ways to improve your leadership skills; if you want to understand the timeless virtues that lead to lasting and meaningful success, then this book is one you cannot afford to miss.
MMS 26-01
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