A sermon by Owen Rogers.
Leadership
Leadership is a hot topic today, especially in the church. A quick search for “leadership’ on Amazon.com reveals that there are 71,209 books available on this topic. I was looking at articles on Lifeway.com, a Christian website and I searched “leadership” and got 1720 results. I looked for one particular article and was told it no longer exists. So I conclude that a great deal has been written on this topic. I will not attempt to cover the subject of leadership in any comprehensive way. I want to look at it as it applies to us.
What is leadership? One of the reasons there are so many books on the subject is that there is no agreement on the definition of the term. Hence we don’t really know precisely what we’re talking about. But as with anything in the discussion of humans as social beings, we have a fair idea what it is, sufficient to discuss it.
Leadership is influence. But not identical with influence, leadership is influence in a particular direction towards particular results. So whether you are the Prime Minister, a mayor, CEO of a corporation, School Principal, church Minister, classroom teacher, team leader in your business, salesperson, parent, football player, or whatever, excercising leadership is part of your role. According to Henry Blackaby, in his book Spritual Leadership. “Everyone experiences [leadership], or the lack of it, in daily life,” In other words, we are involved and we get to lead whether we like it or not. If you are wondering about your leadership ask, “Who is following me?” The answer may surprise you.
Blackaby comes at it another way. He asks leaders to consider, “Why do people follow me?” “Is it because they believe it is their duty? Is it because they are afraid of me? Or is it because they see God’s activity in my life?” He would have us remember that “leadership is not something upon which you can insist. It is something God must produce in you.”
It is also something for which you must qualify. In this week’s readings Paul discuses leadership with his protege, Timothy. In 1 Timothy chapter 3, Paul shows that God has high standards for people who have leadership roles in the church. These high standards apply, in some way, to people in all levels of leadership. Actually these standards apply to all Christians, pretty much. Whether you’re a leader in your church or not, these are good goals to work on. This is the godly character we talked about last week. We must all aspire to godliness while realising that the more people we are responsible for the more strictly we must account for ourselves to God.
Church Leaders Must Have High Family Standards
We must be faithful in marriage (3:2) and be good parents (3:4)
Church Leaders Must Have High Personal Standards
We must be self controlled, temperate and not greedy (3:2, 3), hospitable and gentle (3:2-3).
We must earn a good reputation inside and outside the church (3:7) and be humble (3:6)
In first Timothy chapter 6 Paul goes into more detail on one of the standards when he addresses the issue of money and the Christian. 1 Timothy 6:3–21
Here, Paul explains three important “financial principles” for Christians.
1. Loving Money LEADS to Evil (6:10).
Having money isn’t evil but loving it is (6:10, Matthew 6:24) Loving money quickly “detours” us from loving and serving God. You can’t serve God and money, too. (Matthew 6:24) God’s love draws us into him so that we become one with God. That’s the love we’re talking about – love that unites – as in ‘two become one’. Would you really want to be united as one with money?
2. Greed LEADS to Strife and Quarrels of All Kinds (6:3-5).
This is true in our families and our churches (6:3-5, Genesis 25:29-33; James 2:1-7). Even today, money is at the bottom of many church squabbles.
Our values are so easily distorted. There was once a man who amassed considerable wealth and stored it all as gold bars. He was so keen on his gold that he constantly badgered God to let him take at least some of it to heaven. Eventually God relented so when the man died he turned up at the pearly gates with a bag so heavy he could hardly lift it. Of course St. Peter insisted on checking the contents and when he saw the gold he said, “You’re crazy. Here we pave the streets with that stuff.”
3. Godliness LEADS to Contentment (6:6).
As Paul says, “Godliness with contentment is great gain” (6:9). The secret of happiness is not to pursue money; it’s to pursue God’s kingdom – make it your priority (Matthew 6:33) and let God provide what you’re tempted to provide for yourself. Money for need; not for greed.
And of course the challenge here is to manage your money; don’t let it manage you. Or you could say, “Lead your money; don’t let it lead you.”
Well-known verses
In these readings are some well-known verses. In 2 Timothy 2 we have verse 2: a reminder to pass on what we know. And to pass it on to people who will themselves pass it on and keep the gossip going. This too is leadership.
Then there is verse 15. We all need to use the Bible the right way. I do my best to lead you in that.
In 2 Timothy 3 these is verse 16 which tells us that the Bible is reliable because God made it so, and verse 17 which tells us that it is useful to make us the people we are becoming. Spiritual leadership depends on the Bible.
And then there is the passage we read from 1 Thessalonians 5. Note that Paul’s purpose in writing this is that we might all be encouraged. There’s plenty in this world to make us despondent, not just the weather, but never mind all that – Jesus is coming back and then all will be sorted. There is a lot of interest in end times these days, yet the most important thing to know about the second coming is that we need to be ready for it. The way to be ready is to stay in the game, to keep doing God’s will, stay close to our Lord.
Blackaby, in his book, gives some keys to spiritual leadership. These include a strong character, which we’ve mentioned, letting go of one’s own agenda and embracing prayer. He describes “prayerless” leaders as “a ship captain without a compass.” “They can make their best guess at which direction to go, but they have no assurance they are heading the right way,” he wrote. “Prayer keeps leaders focused on the one absolutely consistent factor in life – God.” And when things get tough and nothing seems to be going right, Blackaby says, “Don’t give up, be patient. Allow God to take all the time he wants to build your character.”
You’re a leader. Have I convinced you? While we all are follwers, we also lead. And as leaders we need to meet the standards for leaders.
Are you qualified?
If not, how could you become so?
Jay Wells, of LifeWay Christian Resources Pastoral Ministries, writes: “If God has called you to lead, he is perfectly capable of equipping you to be the leader he desires. Our model for being workers, for serving…our model for leadership is Jesus. If we’re leading anywhere, who we are affects more than what we say. So wherever we are taking on the role of a leader, we want to emulate the character of Jesus. What I want you to understand is…there is sacrifice, there are demands and challenges to doing this work. Don’t let it discourage you. When you can’t see anywhere to go realize the strength is in God.”
A final comment on motivation.
Why do I develop godly character, live rightly and grow in leadership?
Because that’s what my leaders are encouraging me to do.
Because I have people following my example.
And because Jesus is coming back.
We fool ourselves now about the value of things but what will be their value when Jesus comes and wraps up this whole world order? Is life hard now? It is but a light, momentary affliction in the great scheme of things. Is sin attractive? Often is, but it will do us serious harm. We know that. Is godliness worth it? Too right it is – now and for ever. Worth everything it costs and more.
Stay in the game, let God do his work in you and be continually developing your leadership qualities every day!