Are You a Reluctant Leader?
Photo Image courtesy Nancy C. Williams
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. – 2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)
If you’ve ever served on a nominating committee, you know how hard it is to find people to accept a leadership position. Most folks shrink back from chairing a ministry or service opportunity. Natural-born leaders are truly rare.
If you’re one of those top-of-the-heap leaders, however, nobody has to ask you. You're already chomping at the bit to take charge. You thrive on creating a vision, communicating it to others, and getting them on board to achieve it.
Look at examples in Scripture like Joseph or David. Joseph’s management skills were honed during work for Potiphar, and Pharoah immediately recognized Joseph’s capabilities for running his kingdom. David learned how to guide others by herding sheep...good, practical knowledge for commanding an army.
These guys started, though, with leadership-infused personalities from God. What about the rest of us, the shrinkers who’d rather stay out of the limelight?
The Bible is full of reluctant leaders, too. God spoke to Moses at the burning bush, assigned him to bring His people out of Egypt, and promised to provide help. The response from Moses? A litany of excuses as to why he wasn’t fit for the job. When an angel called Gideon to gather a small army, Gideon was hiding on a threshing floor. Gideon complained about his personal weakness and more than once asked for signs.
In both cases, God patiently prodded them to obey, and He equipped them for the work ahead. He provided Moses with speaking support from his brother Aaron and sent a series of terrifying plagues from on high. For Gideon, He showed how to identify the right 300 men for His victory.
One of my favorites, though, is Timothy. Just as God did for Moses and Gideon, the apostle Paul gently and patiently counseled the younger Timothy on how to faithfully guide the early church into the next century. In his letters, Paul encouraged Timothy to be strong and courageous.
These examples show us the real reason we’re reluctant to lead—fear. We’re afraid to fail. We’re afraid of speaking in front of others. We’re afraid of attacks. We’re afraid we won’t know enough. We’re afraid people will dismiss us.
These are valid concerns. But God’s invitation is more important. When He calls us to a specific leadership job, we need to push our fears aside. We need to trust He will provide for us in every way. If we falter, He will pick us up and hand the reins back to us, to resume our work for Him. We learn more about Him and His work as we faithfully persevere.
If you hear God’s voice speaking about a new role, stop and pray for discernment. Make sure it’s His voice calling you, not peer pressure. In the power of His Holy Spirit, you can be sure His call will never be more than you can handle. Our Lord uses all kinds of leaders to build His kingdom...even reluctant ones like you and me.
Questions for Reflection:
1. What are some of the leadership opportunities you could fill in your local church?
2. How has God equipped you in your life, education, circumstances, and natural skills to be a leader?
3. Who are the people you could serve to advance God’s Kingdom?
