Leaders by the Will of God

Hello Everyone! In this series of posts, my aim is to take the letter of First Timothy and apply it to us as Life Group leaders. It is my conviction (and not mine alone) that God has given us this letter (along with Second Timothy and Titus) to instruct those who are leaders in the church as to how they are to go about fulfilling what God has appointed us to. So, my hope is that these posts will be both encouraging and instructive, and will help us all in some small way to become more fruitful Life Group leaders.

Leaders by the Will of God

1 Timothy 1:1–2 (ESV)

¹Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,

²To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

What is a leader in the church? Is it someone who is extraordinarily gifted? Is it someone with theological training and an impressive list of credentials? Is it someone who is a “Type A” personality, who takes the bull by the horns and gets things done?

Not necessarily.

First and foremost, a leader in the church is someone who is a leader “by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope.” Here we see that it’s not all about training or skillset; it’s not all about experience or gifting. Rather, it’s about a sovereign God who loves his people enough to send them leaders that he himself appoints and equips. Only these leaders have the right to shepherd and guide the flock of Jesus Christ.

But often, God’s leaders look differently than we would expect.

Let’s face it: if we were on the Leadership Development Committee in the early church, the last two people we would have singled out for ministry are Paul or Timothy. Paul was a murderous religious fanatic. Timothy was a timid, weak-kneed youth. Yet, these were exactly the type of people God appointed to lead his church.

Why? Because by using such unlikely individuals, God would get all the glory!

And so it is with us: God has appointed us to leadership in the church, not because we are the best and brightest, but because he uses weak vessels- “clay pots” as Paul says in 2 Corinthians 4:7- so that he gets the all the glory.

There is, therefore, simultaneously a comfort and a caution in these verses. First, be comforted that you have been appointed by God- he will not fail to help his servants in their assigned tasks. But secondly, be cautious that you do not begin to rely more on your talents and gifts than upon the One who gave them to you! Trust in his strength that he might get the fame!

Leading with you for His Glory,

aaron