Pastors who come to our conferences in India want help being a leader. They, like many of us, think leadership is something we DO. The Bible says leadership is what we ARE. If we are what we need to be, we will do what we need to do. Paul lists character traits required for leaders in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. I summarize these in the session “Character of a Leader.”
God says leadership starts with our inner character traits, not with our personality or education. While these qualities apply specifically to leaders, they apply to all Christians for they describe Jesus. Leaders must think and act like Jesus – so must all Christians. This is a lifelong goal for all of us.
Paul says a person must want to be a godly leader and move in that direction. It isn’t something that happens because a person gets a title or some authority. It starts with godly inner qualities like balance, sensibility and discipline in life. In relationships with others we must not be violent, quarrelsome or overbearing but gentle and patient. We also need to have a godly reputation among believers and unbelievers. This comes through honesty, integrity, dependability and sharing with those in need.
Our spiritual life must be solid and without sin. That means we need to have spiritual maturity, live a holy life and be well-grounded in Bible truth so we can accurately teach others as well as defend the truth when it is attacked. To be like Jesus means we need to have a close, solid relationship with our mate and children and our family must be a good example to others. Individually we need to avoid greed, drunkenness, dishonesty and selfishness.
Being a godly leader, like Jesus, is hard but important. It is a goal well worth pursuing. These traits in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 provide a practical list of what that looks like. They are a worthy goal for all of us to pursue.
1 Timothy 3:1-7 Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. 2 Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full[a] respect. 5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 7 He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.
Do you have the traits listed above? Which are most evident in your life now? Which are you lacking? What can you do to improve where you need improvement?
cto Rev. Dr. JERRY SCHMOYER
Christian Training Organization
Jerry@ChristianTrainingOrganization.org
(India Outreach, Spiritual Warfare, Family Ministries, Counseling, World View)