Humility and leadership

At yesterday's small group meeting (which we had on Wednesday due to the nonstop snowing on Tuesday), we looked at Romans 1:8-17. The thing that struck me was Paul's leadership. Paul showed leadership by taking the initiative to reach out and preach to "people in both the civilized world and the rest of the world, to the educated and uneducated alike."

I think many of us, myself included, mistakenly associate leadership with pride. I thought that to be humble is to be quiet, submissive and to be led, rather than to lead. However, Paul was a great leader... does that make him un-humble, proud? No.... Paul was only living up to his calling and that is to glorify God by spreading the Good News. As Christians, we have that same calling. In fact, we cannot hide in the corner and wait to be led, for if we do, we wait at the expense of many who don't know Jesus and the hope He offers.

I believe God has given me certain gifts. Those gifts are not for myself, but for me to use to glorify Him and reach out. If it is my calling to stand up and speak out for Him, then I have to... I must, I have no choice but to obey. Therefore, pride and humility are really not part of the question at all, of whether to lead or not to lead.

What is the difference then, between a humble leadership and a proud one? Well, as my small group discussed, the difference is in where our focus lies. If we lead to glorify ourselves, and by our own authority and strength, then we are proud. However, if we lead to glorify God and because we genuinely want to benefit others... with full knowledge that we ourselves have nothing to offer, but whatever talents we have is from God... then we are humble. Paul's leadership was a humble leadership.

"God knows how often I pray for you. Day and night I bring you and your needs to God, whom I serve with all my heart by spreading the Good News about His Son." Romans 1:9