The Heart of a Godly Leader
As we begin our time in the Word today, I have a question for you. What qualities do you think are necessary for a person to exercise godly leadership? A few of the things I think of are integrity, fairness, humility, and the ability to listen well. I’m sure you could add to that list.
I believe people today are looking for leaders who are authentic; leaders who admit their own imperfections, weaknesses, and failures. They want leaders who can identify with them in their struggles, not someone who portrays themselves as some superhero who “has it all together.” I think this is especially true with leadership in the Church.
And since we’re studying God’s Word together, and it gives us practical instruction for Christian living, we will focus this time on “The Heart of a Godly Leader.” Maybe your first reaction to that title is, “well, I’m not a leader so this doesn’t apply to me.” Not so fast! The qualities we’ll be looking at are important for all Christ-followers, not just those with official titles or positions in the Church. So, I urge you to listen and make an application to your own life.
Our text today is Second Corinthians 1:23 through 2:11. As we begin, here’s just a reminder of the setting. One reason Paul wrote this letter was to defend his apostolic authority to a rebellious minority in the Corinthian church. Another reason was to strengthen the faithful Believers there. For these reasons, Paul’s letter becomes deeply personal as he shares experiences and information that verify his apostolic authority.
So, listen now as I read the text, Second Corinthians 1:23 through 2:11.
In this text, Paul demonstrates the QUALITIES that show us “The Heart of a Godly Leader.” As Christ-followers, you and I are challenged to develop these qualities regardless of our position.
The First QUALITY (that shows the heart of a godly leader) is,
He Thinks Carefully
Paul is dealing with some significant issues in his position as an elder or overseer of the church at Corinth. He planted this church but he’s no longer active in the daily leadership. From his first letter, we know the church was divided into groups based on the leaders they followed. Some chose Paul, some Apollos, some Peter, and others.
Paul could have gone to Corinth in person and used his apostolic authority to correct the situation. But he didn’t. Why not? Because he took time to think carefully about the impact of his choices. He wanted the best way to handle the situation. Often, I find that my initial responses to a situation aren’t the best way to handle it. A wise, godly leader looks for the optimum timing and method in dealing with difficult issues.
This is especially true with false accusations. When we’re falsely accused, we want to vindicate ourselves, to set the record straight. I know this from personal experience. I’ve written letters and emails that I’ve never sent. Why? Because after I “vented my spleen,” as we say, I realized that I was more concerned about my reputation than the well-being of the accuser. And in some cases, the accusation is so absurd it doesn’t merit a reply. A godly leader knows the...
