Charge for the Christian Leader

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Opening Prayer

Holy Spirit, You bring life. I need renewal. I need freshening up. Enliven my parched spirit as I seek to walk in Your ways.

Read 1 Timothy 6:11-16

^[11] But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. ^[12] Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. ^[13] In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you ^[14] to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, ^[15] which God will bring about in his own time-God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, ^[16] who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.

Meditate

Paul’s leadership strategy to Timothy is simple: flee (11a), follow (11b), and fight (12). That is, flee the lure of wealth, follow after righteous living, and fight for the true faith. Good advice for any Christian, not just leaders.

Think Further

Paul charges Timothy to practice leadership within the parameters of the Gospel. Today society tends to list factors and principles of leadership. This is not the way the Apostle Paul expresses his rationale. Here are some of Paul’s views as to how leadership principles can be expressed.

Virtues are higher than skills (11). The Gospel provides the virtues to pursue in life: righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. It is revealing that the list does not include such factors as success, power, large congregations, the cult of personality, and name recognition. These may all be good, as long as they are the consequence of virtues.

Discernment is more important than efficiency or success (11). The expression “man of God” describes a person developing a character under God’s principles. In order to “flee from” and “seek righteousness,” a leader must be skillful in discerning one thing from another. Many times the choices are between two or more acceptable things, yet the Gospel gives a different perspective.

The Gospel gives us a purpose to live for (12). Once a person has stepped onto the path of following Jesus, progress along that path is not automatic. The progress needs a clear focal point in the future, a “call” to “eternal life” (12). This reason to live for is not private or hidden, but rather it becomes open for all to know (12). Much of this “confession in the presence of many witnesses” is silent, perceived by others through actions rather than words.

The centrality of Jesus Christ (13-16) is pivotal. He gives life to everything (13). Jesus as Lord of everything is the ultimate aim in life (14). Also, Jesus is the ruler of all (15,16a) and he is the reason for all worship in life (16b).

Apply

Look back five years and then forward another five. Where have you come from? Where are you going?

Closing prayer

Lord, Ithink of leadership in my own world. With the Holy Spirit’s help, I aspire to embrace Paul’s directions to Timothy. And to You Lord–You alone–be all the glory.

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