2001-01-07 -  Leadership

Passages Related to Spiritual Gifts, Part 1

God has gifted every single one of us, and He desires for us to use those gifts to build up the church (1 Corinthians 12:7). For the next couple weeks, we will look at passages related to spiritual gifts. Today we will see some of what God's word has to say about the gift of leadership. As usual, God's values turn the world's values upside-down. For example, while it is too common in American society for leaders to neglect their families in order to fuill their leadership roles, God's word makes it clear that the home is actually the most important arena for leadership.

Romans 12:6-8 (NASB) Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

• A Godly leader lives a life of integrity, as a sterling role model.

1 Timothy 3:1-7 (NASB) It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do. An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money. He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?), and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil. And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

• A Godly leader is humble, not self-centered or power-seeking.

Matthew 20:28 (NASB) But Jesus called them to Himself and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.''

• A Godly leader knows that sometimes it's best to delegate.

Acts 6:1-4 (NASB) Now at this time while the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint arose on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food. So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, "It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables. Therefore, brethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.''

Jan

 jan@cfdevotionals.org
http://www.cfdevotionals.org