Keys to Faithful Leadership

Keys to Faithful Leadership

While the ability to lead is a gift from God the Bible lists principles that must be followed to be a “Christ-like” leader. The following is a discussion of those principles:

King David in Psalm 15 lists 10 characteristics of a good leader. 

They are as follows:

1) They lead Blameless Lives.

2) They Speak Truth from a Sincere Heart.

3) They refuse to Slander others.

4) They refuse to Harm neighbors.

5) They refuse to Speak evil.

6) They despise Consistent Sinning.

7) They honor Faithful followers and the Lord.

8) They keep their Promises.

9) They don’t charge interest for money lent.

10) They refuse bribes or to testify against the innocent.

Now Christ tells us that we are to lead through service in Mark 10:41-45 and in in John 13:1. Christ washes the feet of His disciples as a picture of leadership through service.

In Romans 12:4-8 Paul talks about the various gifts that each of us are given and he indicates that leadership is a gift from God. To be a leader you must serve God. Examples include: Joshua in Joshua 24:15 when he tells the children of Israel who had rebelled against God that “as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord”. By contrast in 1 Samuel 15:24 Saul blames the children of Israel for his disobedience.

Paul tells us in Galatians 5:24-26 to follow Christ’ lead when we are leading people.

Good leaders lead by example. In Ephesians 4:1-2 Paul tells us that God has called us to lead by example. In 1Timothy 6:11-15 Paul urges us to be a “living sacrifice” to others.

In 1 Peter 5:1-10 Peter lists the Characteristics of a Church leader as: 

a) Realize you are caring for God’s flock.

b) Lead out of eagerness to serve, not out of obligation.

c) Be concerned with what you can give not get.

d) Lead by example.

I pray this devotion time has spoken to you today. 

God bless! 

Copyright © 2018 by Jacob D. Olinger