Leaders are a Resource

2 Timothy 2:2

"And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others."

Paul was training Timothy, and in doing so, teaching him to teach others. Timothy was called to “entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others”, or to invest in those who would move from mere consumption to a deliverer of the Gospel. In the church today we know that those “who teach will be judged with greater strictness” (James 3:1), or in the least understand the sentiment that leaders should be held to a higher standard. Often though, we of the congregation misuse this truth as a shield against the scrutiny of Scripture in our own lives. We focus on the supposed “higher calling” of leaders to the exclusion of the “heavenly calling” (Hebrews 3:1) of every believer. Yes, the mantle of training and teaching was here laid upon a leader, Timothy, but there also exists a calling upon the “faithful men and women” to be trained, and be taught.

There exists then a unified calling, applicable on both sides of leadership; a calling upon the leader to train, and a calling upon the follower to come forth, count the cost, and pay it. Is it time for you to live as a resource for others instead of constantly consuming investments poured into your life? Consider then,

the “land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned” (Hebrews 6:7-8).

All too often, modern leadership is guilty of living as parched ground that greedily swallows the life giving rain, but never yields a useful crop for others. Our culture is thirsty for great leadership. Yet, leaders are not a resource, they are a predator. Leadership is not to bear the “thorns and thistles” produced by bondage to your sinful flesh. In contrast, Godly leaders are a resource that assist people to thrive. A good leader will bring buckets of rain into a group or team and replenish the hearts of all he or she touches.

Lord, help me to be a committed leader that uses the gifts and talents you have given to me to be a resource in raising up faithful men and women. Amen.

You know I love ya, Don


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