3 Things Pastors and Leaders Must Never Forget
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Like it or not, and whether you realize it or not, being a pastor or leader is not easy. There are multiple responsibilities that come with this role and those who are in positions of leadership are charged with a high calling. Here is what the Bible says about those who desire to be pastors, and I will include leaders in this as well:
As a leader, sometimes the most challenging questions to answer are questions about your opinion. When you understand influence, then you recognize that how you see something is going to shape how other people see the same thing. As a leader, it would be foolish not to think this way. That’s why there is great wisdom in knowing when to share your opinions and when to be silent.
Granted this is not always easy to do, but it is something every leader must learn. As a leader there are people waiting to hear your response and opinion on a particular topic. Often this happens because they respect your opinions, and that in and of itself should keep you mindful of how and when you share your opinions.
As a Christian leader you should always base your opinions on what God has to say about the topic. In other words, let your opinion be shaped by God’s opinion. Granted this will not always make you the most popular person, because unfortunately there are many Christians who don’t want to hear God’s opinion on a topic. However, as a Christian leader it is your responsibility to give them God’s opinion anyway.
Remember the Bible says this is a noble task. I would say the same rule applies in giving your opinions as in speaking. Be quick to listen, but take some time before you respond. If you are unsure of the proper response, it is okay to let some things go until you can be more certain of God’s opinion on the topic. In the long run, this makes you a better leader because you recognize that your opinion will influence someone else. If you must give an opinion, you want it to be the right one.
As a leader, not only does what you say and what you think matter, what you do matters just as much. This requires you to be aware of the things you do and how they can be perceived. Let me give you a simple example that hopefully underscores the point.
Whenever I travel, there are times when I must go out to eat, usually for dinner. I always make it a point to not have dinner with a female colleague alone. Even though there is nothing going on and no desire for that, I am more concerned about the way it can appear, especially as a leader. This is where having influence can affect other people. Someone seeing me have dinner with a woman who is not my wife could potentially perceive that the wrong way, and so for my sake and for their sake I will choose not to do that.
For some people, that may seem a little over the top, but remember as a leader you have influence, and your actions matter. This further confirms why being a pastor or leader is a noble task. This may seem drastic, but when you really understand influence and you care about how you affect others, then these types of decisions become easier to make.
I hope you see that leadership is no easy path to walk and honestly everyone is not cut out for it. And guess what? That is okay. Everyone can’t lead and everyone doesn’t want to lead and there is nothing wrong with that.
However, if leadership is your desire and you feel God is moving you in that direction, make sure you count the cost of what is involved. Many people focus on the person at the front of the room or who is at the top of the organization. While there is nothing wrong with desiring those roles, just be mindful of what it takes to get there, and more importantly what it takes to stay there. If you do this right, you will lead well and maintain your good name in the process because at the end of the day, that is the most important thing you have as a leader and as a person.
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