1 Peter 5:1-6
As I was growing up, I often heard from teachers, mentors and my parents the importance of growing as a leader. I focused on serving as a leader in school clubs, as a camp counselor, over my student body. Looking back, I realize that although I held these leadership positions, my view of leadership was far from sophisticated. In leading, I liked being the boss and feeling important and I liked the idea of how these positions would cast a favorable view of my character on my college admission applications.
After college, I worked for a while as a classroom teacher. Certainly I felt the importance of leadership in front of all of those little faces, but after leaving the classroom to stay home with my own children, the idea of myself as a leader faded away.
When Peter addresses the elders of the church in 1 Peter 5, it’s easy to dismiss his instructions as only for church leaders. But in truth, his admonitions apply just as much to me as to office holders in the church.
Because the truth is that I am a leader. Most likely, you are too. Most of my leadership happens at home these days, but the skills I need there as a mom and a wife are no less important because my audience is small. In fact, since I’m the only mom my children have, I’d argue that my leadership of them is vitally significant.
So as we lead, we shepherd our flock (5:2), whoever it is that God has given us to lead. We tend them, guide them, and manage them. We walk with them and show them the way.
We shepherd with oversight (5:2) to ensure their safety, physical but also spiritual, as we lead them away from and teach them the danger of sin. Guarding their well-being, we show them what is beneficial and how to determine priorities. Our job is to help them grow in maturity and in their faith.
We do this willingly (5:2), not begrudgingly. We do this regularly, not only when we sense an urgent need. Leading gladly, as God would have us do, comes from a place of love. And because it is out of love, our leadership comes from an eagerness to serve, even when it requires sacrifice, even when there is no gain nor return (5:2).
In our leadership, we choose not to become domineering (5:3) or controlling. The Holy Spirit is the one who convicts and leads others to repentance, not us. We speak truth in love and discipline our own children, but we do not decide the course of lives that aren’t our own. Instead we stand as an example with our own lives, faith, decisions, attitudes, and righteousness. We work to get our lives right, rather than manipulating or forcing others to change theirs.
Striving toward humility (5:6), we do not seek to boss those we lead. Knowing our humble place before the Lord, we give the very grace we have been given. We consider the benefit of others before our own, making much of others and of God rather than of ourselves. Even with our children, we apologize when we blow it and seek forgiveness. We continually, perpetually seek to do what is good and to reject what is evil.
In a world where humility is not necessarily lauded, we remember that God opposes the proud but exalts the humble. This may not earn us status, power or fame as leaders, but at the proper time, God will lift us up. We don’t let our worries of what people will think of us get in the way of leading like this. Instead, we cast our cares on God. He will take them all because he cares so deeply for us.
Our leadership matters. God has given it to us for our good and for his glory. In striving to lead the way he desires, we will see the kind of impact that makes much of him and that points others to who he is. And we will know that we are smack in the middle of God’s will for our lives when we follow his plan for leadership.
I don’t know about you, but that’s the kind of leader, wife, mom, human I want to be. Because when I am like this, I am representing my Jesus well. This is who he is. And I want to show him to the world. I want to become just like him. I want his name to go forward and be lifted high.
God, I want to be the kind of leader you designed me to be. I want my leadership to be a sign pointing everyone around me back to you and who you are. I want to lead people straight to you. Lord, help me use my leadership and my influence to make much of you.
