Hard Facts For Spiritual Leaders
Hard Facts For Spiritual Leaders
By Cathy Straton Mclaughlin
Issues: Prone to pride, discouragement, ineffectiveness and other ills, a leader in God’s work must often approach God in the Scriptures to make necessary adjustments in his leadership. There he will find noble words to grasp again and again.
“NOT MANY OF YOU should presume to be teachers,” the apostle James wrote, “because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly” (James 3:1).
This is a critical warning that anyone called to teach and to lead in spiritual matters must weigh. Stop and count the cost for serving as a leader in God’s kingdom. But after prayerfully waiting upon God, once you are sure you have his confirmation and his promise to you as a spiritual leader, do not stagger back-“for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable” (Romans 11:29).
If you acknowledge your responsibility toward God and toward the people you lead, there will be little room for pride or error in your leadership. As you serve the Lord in righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit you will be “pleasing to God and approved by men” (Romans 14:18).
From the Leader’s Guide for The Life and Ministry of Jesus Christ (NavPress, 1982)
In his words to the church at Corinth, the apostle Paul said that he had nothing to glory about in his position as a preacher of the gospel. In fact, he said at he would be utterly miserable if he did not the gospel. Therefore he willingly and voluntarily served God, and experienced in that service a joyful reward.
This is because God had picked him out—or “called” him—for a special purpose, and given him a sacred trust. The sharing of the good news was therefore a true necessity in Paul’s life. He could not keep from it even if he wanted to. Yet even with all this assurance and confidence, he was careful to note that he must not abuse his power and privilege.
He understood that along with the joyful rewards of feeding God’s flock were certain responsibilities. He knew that he was accountable for the spiritual welfare of these people, and that he would have to answer to God for any slackness or slothfulness on his part.
Paul was careful not to touch the glory due to God or to pretend that he himself was the cause of the increase in people’s growth. He recognized that without submitting to the lordship of Jesus Christ he could be rejected as Christ’s servant and as a leader called by God.
He was constantly taking heed unto himself and his doctrine. He continued in obedience to God’s word, and in doing so he saved himself and those who heard him. For Jesus said,
Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:19)
Read especially in Acts to see examples of Paul’s leadership. He served the Lord “with great humility and with tears” (Acts 20:19). By his own example he showed others how to help the weak “by this kind of hard work” (Acts 20:35). He said, “You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you” (Acts 20:20). He said his life meant nothing to him, “if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me” (Acts 20:24). Even after becoming older he preached and taught boldly (Acts 28:31).
Paul went beyond a moral obligation to others. With a true, nurturing love (I Thessalonians 2:7–12) he ministered to his people, displaying compassion and concern for all. He was ever gentle with them, and because they were dear to him he shared with them his own life. He encouraged and comforted, and he charged and directed the people to walk worthy of God.
In 1 Thessalonians 2 we also find the secret to his success. He was trying to please God and not men. He knew God was his judge, so he never used flattery, or worked deceitfully for greed. He wanted only God’s anointing and blessing.
He was also the kind of leader who thanked God without ceasing, for the people received God’s word as the truth, and this produced eternal results in their lives.
So who are spiritual leaders, according to God’s word? They are toilers-laborers in God’s harvest (Matthew 9:38). And they are servants and slaves of Christ and of other men (Matthew 20:26–27).
As a spiritual leader you are not to seek respect and esteem through your position in your church or because of some impressive title. Rather, you are to be yielded completely to God so that you might truly live to the praise of his glory. Your place of leadership is that of a toiler and slave.
You may be having trouble deciding if spiritual leadership is right for you. The whole idea may be frightening. But don’t be overwhelmed with the challenge. God never calls a person into his service without promising to go with him.
So as you look at the fields ripe and ready for harvesting, and as your heart responds Here am I, send me! know that God will lead and guide you with his very eye. As your heart is stirred and your desire wells up to help Christians be filled with the knowledge of God’s will “through all spiritual wisdom and understanding,” rest assured of your potential as a spiritual leader. God will fill you and use you.
Remember too that the most important thing not to do as a spiritual leader is to ignore God. In Jeremiah 2:8, God rebuked the spiritual leaders of that day with these words: “The priests did not ask, ‘Where is the Lord?’ Those who deal with the law did not know me.” The first requirement for service in God’s kingdom is to truly know him.
God will delight in the fact that you understand and know him-that he is glorious, wise, and mighty, and loving, just, and righteous. It is vital for you to know God so you can make him known to others as he truly is. Otherwise, you are the blind leading the blind.
In order not to deceive others, you don’t have to memorize the entire Bible. You do not even have to know the answers to every question others will have of you. You simply have to be honest before God and be a doer of God’s word, desiring to share your experience with others. There will be no need to bluff.
Although a sense of responsibility should always pervade your leadership, you can also experience the joy of influencing others for Christ. What a privilege it is to be sent to labor among his people!
So accept both the responsibilities and the privileges of leadership, knowing that someday you will rest from your labors and receive an unfading crown. Know that your work for the Lord is not in vain!
Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. (Daniel 12:3)
Time For A Checkup
| Read through this self-evaluation list for spiritual leaders, and ask God to show you one or two areas in which he would like you to improve the quality of your leadership. Then consider what you could actually do to improve in these areas, and write down your plan of action in the space below the list.For the results of my leadership, do I give God “the glory due his name” (I Chronicles 16:29)?Do my words reflect true knowledge of God? “For the lips of a priest ought to preserve knowledge, and from his mouth men should seek instruction-because he is the messenger of the Lord Almighty” (Malachi 2:7).Am I called by God to be a spiritual leader? John the Baptist was “a man who was sent from God” (John 1:6), and Paul was “called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel” (Romans 1:1).Do I truly care for people, and feel their concerns without being preoccupied with my own feelings? “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn” (Romans 12:15).Am I serving others through my leadership rather than trying to accommodate my own interests? “I try to please everybody in every way,” Paul said. “For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved” (I Corinthians 10:33).Do I demonstrate love in my words and actions? For without love, I am nothing (I Corinthians 13:1–3).Do I pray regularly for the people I lead? Paul said to his people, “We constantly pray for you” (2 Thessalonians 1:11).Is my teaching true, reliable, and of proper seriousness? “In your teaching show integrity, seriousness, and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned” (Titus 2:7–8).Am I serving others by using the gifts I have received? “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms” (I Peter 4:10).In obedience to the Holy Spirit’s prompting, what one or two practical steps of action can you take to improve the quality of your spiritual leadership? |
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Cathy Straton CATHY STRATON MCLAUGHLIN of Colorado Springs is a leader and a trainer of leaders for Bible study groups.
[1]Discipleship Journal : Issue 10. 1999 (electronic ed.). The Navigators/NavPress: Colorado Springs