“Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock” (1 Peter 5:3).
Introduction
One thing that is common to everyone called of God is the call to lead by example. God wants us to model the Christian character we want to see in our members because people will remember what you did more than what you said. This is why God rejected the Pharisees style of leadership because say but don’t do what they say (Matthew 23:2-4). As leaders, God wants us to guide His children through our behaviours and inspire them to do the right thing as we do. Here are three important points to consider.
1. The Burden
The charge that the Holy Spirit is giving to Church leaders through apostle Peter can be seen as the burden of an elder like us. He wanted us to catch the burden Jesus placed on him by the sea of Tiberias when Jesus singled him out and charged him with the burden of leading the flock. Peter wants us to understand that included in the charge that Jesus gave him was the call to lead by example.
This same burden is what was expressed to Bishop Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:12. It is a unique burden of true leadership that most people in leadership positions are not willing to bear. Yet, it is our readiness to bear this burden that separates true leaders from mere occupants of positions.
Bearing this burden will
• Strengthen your leadership
• Make it more effective
• Produce lasting results
• Make it acceptable to God
• Put you in good stead to reproduce other effective leaders.
2. The Battle
Truth be told, leadership is challenging and it’s a real battle and a struggle to be an example as leaders.
• It is a battle when things that are common to men happen to you and you are expected to behave in a manner that is not common to men.
• When you are beset with the same challenges, but you must be the one to be strong for them as if what is afflicting them is not afflicting you.
• When you cannot give the same excuses that your members give, even though your circumstances are essentially the same.
• It is a tortuous battle when you have to pretend to be an angel or a superman and suffer in silence, all because you are the leader. It is interesting that people conveniently forget that the Christian leader is also a man and taken from among men, not angels (Hebrews 5:1).
But such is the peculiarity of the call to leadership, especially Christian leadership. We draw encouragement from the fact that others who have gone before us gracefully bore this burden and did not fail God. Of Elijah, it is written: “Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are” (James 5:17). That means he was subject to suffering like we. Amplified says he had the same physical, mental, and spiritual limitations and shortcomings like us. Hear Paul: “Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is offended, and I burn not?” (2 Corinthians 11:29). But they all still strove to lead by example and God was proud of them. How did they win this battle? How shall we do it?
• By fully surrendering to God, Romans 12:1-2.
• Drawing strength from the Lord in prayer (James 5:13), and the study of God’s word (1 Timothy 4:6). Studying the scriptures for personal strength and nourishment is different from studying to preach.
• Mingle with the right company (Acts 4:23).
3. The Blessing
As it is with every instruction of God, the scriptures assures that when we do what God expects of us, we do have a reward.
• First, there is the reward of seeing people live right, having been challenged by our steadfastness and example.
• The peace and confidence that come with knowing that God is pleased with us.
• The reward of a crown in heaven (1 Peter 5:4).
Conclusion
Ultimately, the call to leading by example is a call to “servant leadership”. Our prime model in this leadership style is the Lord Jesus Himself (John 13:12-17). God is depending on us to model to the world how to lead. To do so is to model Jesus and be a true example of the believer to the world. May we not disappoint God in Jesus name.
