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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Leadership (03/14/05)
The Word tells us to submit to our leaders--those who are in authority over us. It also tells us HOW to submit to authority. Yet often we neglect to examine how we can best serve as leaders. We are all in leadership, to one degree or another. If you are a husband/father, you are in leadership over your family. Perhaps you are in leadership in a ministry or at your job. Just as we need to learn how to submit to leadership, we need to learn how to be a godly leader.

One of the greatest examples of one whose leadership was godly is that of Paul. When Paul wrote letters to the churches, he always knew how to address difficult topics. Even for those churches who were rebuked, he always started off by recognizing the good in them. In I Corinthians, he started off the letter by giving thanks for them. He pointed out some of their strong points. It's important that in leading others, we don't always focus on the negative. We must always balance a rebuke with a compliment. In 2 Corinthians, he encouraged them by reminding them how God comforts us and uses our troubles to then comfort others. We need to encourage those we are in leadership over. Remember, Proverbs tells us that words can bring healing to the soul.

Even in the book of Galatians, Paul almost immediately points out how the church has so quickly deserted the gospel for something false. Yet, he still began the letter with a greeting of grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ. He gives a reminder of how He has saved us. We may face a difficult situation in which we have to correct, yet we can always remind them of how God's grace is available.

Throughout his epistles, Paul also prayed for those he was in leadership over. Ephesians 3:14-21 is a type of prayer that really demonstrates his love and concern. When we are in leadership, we must demonstrate that we are not in that position simply as a way of possessing power but that we genuinely care about those we are in leadership over.

Another great example about Paul is that despite the fact he served time in prison, he didn't neglect the needs of those under him. He didn't allow his circumstances to take away from his love for the churches. When we are going through difficult times, we cannot neglect our role in leadership. We cannot use those troubles as an excuse to ignore the needs of others and simply focus on ourselves. Paul even went so far, in Philippians 1:12, to point out that what has happened to him has served to advance the gospel. In leadership, our troubles can be encouragement to others that we have not given up...that we are pressing on and trusting in the Lord's work.

I encourage you to search the Word and look at the examples of other leaders and how they served as godly examples before others.

(Colossians 3:23) Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Lynne Gaunt
03/22/05
I liked the thorough job you did in showing how Paul became a great leader of the church and is a great axample to us. After all he's the one who said "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" - all leaders should follow this example. Nice job!
donna robinson
03/25/05
I really liked this as I thought it was informative in expressing a point of view. I have always had my problems with Paul and I liked some of the ways you expressed his views in an understandable manner.