What makes a great leader?

Every day we're reading or listening to part of the Bible together and sharing thoughts with you. Today it’s Owen Lynch:

What did I like about today’s passage?

I like the encouragement that Paul gives to Timothy as a leader. Timothy is a young man in a society where older males dominate and so Paul tells him in 4:12, don’t look down on you because you are young, but set an example in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity.

If you are reading this on Wednesday 4th November, you may be absorbing the news that either Joe Biden or Donald Trump will be the President of the USA for the next four years.

Whatever the outcome of the election - the character of the two nominees will have been a factor in who Americans have chosen to be their next president. No matter how competent a leader is, their character matters, because trust matters!

Paul tells Timothy to be an example in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity. This description of a leader has echoes of Paul’s history as a Jewish Pharisee - these are the qualities of a good Pharisee, but these traits also echo Jesus’ example as a leader.

What did it show me about Father God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit?

I am reminded of Luke’s description of Jesus in Luke 22:25-26,

Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves.

Jesus challenged the hierarchical model of leadership that shaped his contemporary Greco-Roman society. He turned it on its head and said that the greatest should be like the youngest and the one who rules like the one who serves.

Jesus isn’t the only leader to have advocated such an attitude to leadership, but he is one of the few who have lived that principle to the point of death.

We all have some influence over other people - we all lead others in one way or another. So the question for us all is, will we lead like Jesus and serve those who we influence, or will we lord it over them?

What am I going to do differently as a result?

I’m going to allow this principle of servant leadership to be at the forefront of my mind as I lead. I’m going to pray for our leaders especially at this time of crisis, that they too would exercise their authority with a servant heart - including Trump or Biden - whoever wins the election.

Who am I going to share this with?

I want to encourage you today to pray for the next President of the USA - let’s pray together!