In his first letter
to the Corinthians Paul makes the startling point that we can have the greatest
spiritual experiences in the world, possess the most amazing gifts and
knowledge, and we can engage in the most sacrificial and stunning displays of
ministry, and yet if we do all these without love, we would “only be a noisy
gong or clanging cymbal…[we] would be nothing…[and we] would have gained
nothing.” (13:1-3) [1]
If we apply what the
apostle says to leadership, we can conclude that the very best of leadership
skills, experiences, insight, and gifts in the world--all without love--comprise just a bunch
of worthless noise. Bottom-line, such leadership is not the equivalent of an
accomplished pianist sitting down at the keys. Rather, it is like a child
banging away!
Can we imagine any
more impactful statement about the need for love in leadership? Leaders, in
other words, need to be those who possess the God-honoring, Spirit-empowered
desire to benefit others in their relationship with God—a desire which leads to
action (if possible) and affection for them in accordance with the truth of
God.This is biblical love.
Also, this is our next truth to consider in biblical leadership.
If we will carry out the first truth of laying before self and others our
ultimate purpose of glorifying God by enjoying him, we will need to remember
this second one. We must:
Embody love as a key purpose
in the church.
This
Truth Supported From The Pastoral Epistles
As Paul outlines for Timothy and Titus how the church is to
function, he clarifies that an elder is to love other Christians enough that he
“enjoy[s] having guests in his home” (1 Tim. 3:2); leaders are
to treat others with respect, no matter what their age is (1 Tim. 5:1-2)—and
this is a big part of love (1 Cor. 13:5); the leadership of the church is to
love those in need enough to give guidance to how to help them in wisdom (1
Tim. 5:3-16); a believer is to love his family enough to help them with their
physical needs (1 Tim. 5:8); leaders must be “kind to everyone” (2 Tim. 2:24)
and “gently instruct those who oppose the truth” (2 Tim. 2:25)—both of which
are a key part of love (1 Cor. 13:4); and wives are instructed to “love their
husbands and children” (Titus 2:4). In fact, Paul starts right off in 1 Timothy
1:5 by writing, “The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be
filled with love….”
The point is that there is to be a lot of
loving going on in the church and the leaders are to set the example. After
all, in 1 Tim. 4:12 Paul tells Timothy: “Be an example to all believers…in your
love….” In other words, in the very New Testament books that instruct leaders
with how to lead in the Church, we discover that love of others is one of the
most important ways we carry out our ultimate purpose of glorifying God.
This
Truth Supported From The Rest Of The Bible
Our discovery in the pastoral letters should not surprise
us, for it is exactly what we find in the rest of the Bible. Jesus said that
the greatest commandment is, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind” and
all those who do this will, “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew
22:27-39). Such love of others that
flows from our love of God is the summary of the entire Bible (Matthew 22:40).
Since love of God is such an important part of glorifying him and since we
cannot love him without that leading to our loving others (1 John 4:7-21), love
is one of the major ways we carry out our purpose. Leaders are to lead by and
model this love for others![2]
So, leaders, no more empty noise in our
leading! Lead with love!
Application
Of This Truth
Here are some simple ways we can apply this truth.
1. We must remember that the end never justifies the means. As
leaders we must not just keep our eyes on goals and outcomes, but also on how
we go about an action or ministry. We must display both love for God and
others.
2. One of the areas in which we will be challenged to the greatest
degree is that of conflict. It is so easy to feel justified in responding to
others in anger because of what they have done. The leader is wise who
remembers Proverbs 16:32 (“Whoever is slow to anger is
better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit
than he who takes a city” [ESV]) and the teaching of
James 3-4. Learn to deal biblically and lovingly with conflict.
3. As you lead, keep in mind that all you do is to be out of love for
God and those whom you are leading. Don’t lose sight of people and focus only on
projects and goals.
4. If you struggle with leading in a loving manner, have someone(s)
not only regularly pray for you about this, but also have them ask you
occasionally, “How are you doing with love?”
5. Memorize and regularly pray this second truth.
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