Scripture Passage
This is a trustworthy saying: “If someone aspires to be an elder, he desires an honorable position.” (1 Timothy 3:1 NLT)
Observation
God bless the person who welcomes leadership responsibilities.
I suppose I understand that leadership isn’t for everybody and—at the same time (to be honest about it)—I wonder why there aren’t more people both (#1) willing to “step up to the plate” where leadership is needed and (#2) willing to do the kind of work required to become the kind of person qualified to carry the responsibilities that kingdom advance demands.
(Yes, I know—that’s a terribly long and convoluted sentence. So read it again if you need to.)
Perhaps the reason some are unwilling to lead is because leadership requires diligent labor. Even before the leadership responsibilities begin, one who would lead as an elder faces a laundry list of requirements—each demanding the development of significant qualities that don’t always come easily. And then the leadership responsibilities stack on top of that!
But, hey—somebody’s gotta do it. More than that, somebody ought to do it. It’s an “honorable position,” Paul says. In my book, honorable things are desirable things. And something’s wrong when a person can say, “I don't really care that much about tasks and challenges that are honorable. I don't really care that much about becoming a person of character qualified to lead in God’s Kingdom. I’d really rather just not bother.”
My, I must be feeling feisty today, but here’s the passage of Scripture that comes to mind—Matthew 25:24-30…
[24] "Then the man who had received the one talent came. 'Master,' he said, 'I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. [25] So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.'
[26] "His master replied, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? [27] Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
[28] "'Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. [29] For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. [30] And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'" (Matthew 25:24-30 NIV)
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feisty, What about the requirements of leadership that believers do not meet. Some of them are repairable faults but some of them seem to be set in stone and therefore eliminate us from leadership. And besides if everyone were a leader then who would follow? I know God has made me to be a prince over principallities, so I'll just wait till that job is given me, and try to be a good follower till then. Martin
ReplyDeleteWell, I clearly acknowledged that "leadership isn't for everybody." And though the passage deals with qualifications for elders, certainly serving as an elder is not the only leadership responsibility available in God's Kingdom. Everybody can lead somebody--and should. Indeed, to "make disciples" is to exert leadership--that command isn't limited to only a few. And as I've said elsewhere, in essence, if you wait till "the age to come" to learn to lead (personal conviction here), you'll not be ready...and likely not get the job.
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