Leadership

DEVOTION
1 TIMOTHY
LEADERSHIP
1 Tim 5:24-25
24 The sins of some men are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. 25 In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not cannot be hidden.
NIV
It would seem to me living as a Christian should be in conformance with, or at least the first and foremost desire of my heart to live in such, a manner which pleases God. In order to be in any position of leadership within the body of Christ, I think that should be the way it is. So when certain people who profess being a Christian live in such a manner which does not live up a manner which pleases God, or at least their disobedience to the word is right out in the open, they certainly should not occupy any position of leadership in the body of Christ. It is the other situation which brothers me the most. It is the hypocritical ones, those who appear holy and righteous but live a life of sin in secret. I must guard myself against such behavior, for I think we all have temptations which work to lure us into sin. Every person who stands in leadership has temptations; it would be foolish to think otherwise. Oh sure, those temptations may not be of the type such as to lie, kill or steal, or maybe they are. But I think everyone has some temptation which they could yield to without any other knowing of it. The occasional falling from perfection is not what I think is going on here, but rather the situation of one in leadership willing living a secret life of pleasure in the flesh. That is a bit harsh, maybe they living with doubt, spiritual pride, or some form of bitterness, or even unforgiveness, but doing that in secret, keeping it from others. The scripture says that surely our sins will find us out, and I am confident such a person who occupies a leadership role cannot hide forever his secrets. Now, on the other hand those deeds considered good should also be out in the open in front of all as well. It is one thing to confess in front of others all the good things I am doing somewhere else out of the sight of the body of Christ. But it is entirely another thing to be doing good deeds, working, serving the Lord out in the open in front of everyone for all to see. What good it is to say I am doing this or that when I am not. And if I am doing good deeds elsewhere other than within the church, should I not also be doing good deeds within the church? I think it cannot be helped but to do good deeds everywhere if I am trying to follow Christ. That would also mean than I cannot just sit and be a passive part of the body, I must be about my Father’s business. I must desire to live as Christ did, keeping myself from a lifestyle of sin and shame, and doing good deeds everywhere, serving whoever I can, both outside and inside the body of Christ, that is leadership.