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The marks of Leadership are a personal challenge and guide for assessment of your own continued qualification to lead. By these standards you can select those whom you would have work along side you. Look for the gifting that is accompanied by the marks of character maturity that fits them for service.
(Titus 1:5-9; 1 Timothy 3:2-7 ).
It is interesting to note that this list, given to help in choosing spiritual leadership, is not a list of gifts, but marks of Christian maturity. Christlike character makes gifts acceptable and develops others in the Christian walk. We are to lead by our life-style. The principle of not just leading by saying, but leading by showing.
1 Timothy 3:4 "One that ruleth well his own house ..." (KJV)
He must manage his own family well.
The leader (overseer - NIV), must be qualified to lead by his home life, his community life, his church life. Being qualified in these three areas makes the Spirit-filled person acceptable and useable in service.
The leader must be an example in committed relationship - committed and devoted to the other. The idea is more than being a one-woman man, it means a quality relationship. Ministry can be just as effectively killed by a shallow relationship as by an unfaithful relationship. Commitment to relationship means maintaining the harmony by meeting each others needs (1 Corinthians 7:1-5 ). Harmonious relationships - whether single or married must be kept by avoiding exposing ourselves to temptation, (2 Timothy 2:22 ). Proper relationships are maintained by regular study of the Word of God and prayer. This gives an effective thought life (Philippians 4:8 ).
The leader must manage his own family well, otherwise he is disqualified from ruling in the church. Single or married, the well-ordered home reveals maturity and ability to lead others. Example in personal good management is the way to bring about a well ordered home. This is seen by others as disciplined leadership, godliness is revealed, because God is a God of order (1 Corinthians 14:33 ).
He must see that his children obey him with proper respect. He must:
Paul's ministry was an example for bringing up children, (1 Thessalonians 2:11 ). If we deal with children in this way we will command their respect.
The leader must be hospitable. God has always expected hospitality of His people (Leviticus 19:33-34; Hebrews 13:1-2 ). Hospitality is the mark of a mature home, a mature church, and a mature leader.
So the marks of a mature Christian leader seen in his home life-style are:
Committed relationships Consistent rule / Management Commanded respect Cordial responsibility
A leader must live in such a way that no charge can be made against him, that is, a lifestyle that no charge could be brought against. A leader must have a spoken report, his good reputation talked about, as in Timothy's case (Acts 16:2 ). We are commanded in Scripture to have a good reputation (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12; Colossians 4:5-6; 1 Corinthians 10:31-33; 1 Peter 2:12 ). There will be times when we are reproached for Christ's sake. We have been so warned (Matthew 5:11; Luke 6:22; 1 Timothy 3:7 ).
The leader must be an example in money matters. Spiritual leaders are to be cared for (1 Timothy 5:17; 1 Corinthians 9:14 ). Spiritual leaders must not live lives that are dominated by money (Matthew 6:33 ). They are to have their hearts in the right place (Matthew 6:19-21 ). They must be content and dependant on God (Hebrews 13:5; 1 Timothy 6:6-10 ). To one who loves money, getting money becomes no longer getting to supply needs, but for getting's sake. (Read Ecclesiastes 5:10 ). They value material gain above spiritual things (Titus 1:10-11; Mark 12:40; Luke 12:18-19 ). Those who love money, rob God. Those who love God, give regularly to God (2 Corinthians 8:2,3,4 ). Those who love money cannot claim to be Christlike (2 Corinthians 8:9 ). Those who love money are never satisfied (Ecclesiastes 5:10-11 ). Love of money leads away from God (Matthew 13:22 ). The leader must present a good example in money matters before the Lord.
The word means a well ordered life. By such living the leader is to make the teaching of the Word attractive. This is also true of servants (Titus 2:9-10 ). A respectable life is a liberated life - free from the grip of wine (Titus 1:7 ), and from all other addictions. Make your resolve (1 Timothy 3:3 ). The spiritual leader is to be "vigilant" (KJV), "temperate" (NIV), (I Timothy 3:2 ). A respectable life is a controlled life (Titus 1:7 ), not pugnacious - "striker" (KJV), "not quarrelsome" (NKJV), (1 Timothy 3:3 ). Spiritual men have been known to fail here (Numbers 20:11-13; John 18:10-11; Matthew 26:69-75 ), Notice another form of striking in James 3:8-9. Remember Colossians 3:7,8. A striker is disqualified from leadership. He will have no testimony before the world.
Leaders must be sensible and of mature judgement and with proper restraint. Self-controlled leaders are teachable. Apollos was like this and was willing to be taught the way of the Lord more accurately (Acts 18:26 ). Self-controlled leaders are humble (Romans 12:3 ). Self-controlled leaders are strong (Titus 1:8 ). Self-controlled leaders are reliable because they love God - they love what is good (Titus 1:8; Galatians 6:10 ). Reliable leaders love God's Word that equips for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16, 17 ). Reliable leaders love to be holy and upright in their service to mankind - and faithful in performing their duty to God. The world expects the godly leader to have a good reputation and good standards in remunerations - and that they be respectable and reliable.
All do not have the gift of teacher (Ephesians 4:11 ), but every leader must be able to communicate to others what he has learned (2 Timothy 2:2 ). The leader must be teachable. Every believer must develop so that he is able to teach others (Colossians 3:16 ), so must Christian fathers (Ephesians 6:4 ). Paul was an example of teaching on a-one-to-one basis (1 Thessalonians 2:11 ). The Church expects their leaders to be examples in teaching.
One who can convince others does so by behaviour as well as words. The leader must be self-controlled - holy - disciplined. These qualities of life back the "sound doctrine" (Titus 1:9 KJV ). Such leaders will be able to convince even some erroneous teachers. Those able to teach will be able to encourage others. They will also be able to convince and refute. Titus 1:10 gives a guide as to those who must be refuted.
Note the clear instructions for dealing with disrupters in Titus 1:11. To be able to silence, a leader must be "apt to teach" (1 Timothy 3:2 KJV ). Note the advice for dealing with wrong teaching, "be gentle" (2 Timothy 2:24 KJV ). Meet refusal with a sharp reprimand and command to STOP (1 Timothy 1:3 ). Failure to repent must be disciplined by the Church (Titus 3:10-11 ). Adamant refusal is to be met by excommunication (1 Timothy 1:20 ). Leaders are to avoid all meaningless and worthless teaching. (1 Timothy 4:7; 2 Timothy 2:23; obey 2 Timothy 4:2 ). We are not left in doubt as to the meaning of "apt to teach".
The leader must be gifted in the ability to rule, "manage" (NIV). Single people prove leadership quality by the way they handle responsibility in the office or business, etc. Maturity manifests itself in ruling. The leader rules by feeding with the Word of God. Note what the Lord said to Peter in John 21:15-17. Managing God's house is by His Word (2 Timothy 3:16 ).
The recent convert could become puffed up if given leadership. The recent convert is not fully developed and is unable to discern (Hebrews 5:14 ). The church expects the leader to be an example in teaching - convincing - ruling - and maturity.
How important to follow the scripture standard for leadership, refusing to be influenced by changing worldly, human, so called wisdom. (1 Corinthians 2:6 ).
