Tuesday Thought -- November 8, 2011

Good Morning Friends,

“As apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you, but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children.  We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.  Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you.  You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed.  For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.” (1 Thessalonians 2:6b-12)

Paul uses some interesting images of leaders in this passage, all taken from the human family.  Each shows a different aspect of good and godly leadership.

“We were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children.”  A good leader has compassion on those being led.  A good leader seeks to be sure those being led know they are loved.  A good leader can be compared to a kind and loving mother, who meets the needs of her children with such obvious compassion.  Mothering is not a duty performed roughly, but an act of love performed with tenderness -- so, too, good leadership.

“Surely you remember, brothers.”  Good and godly leaders never forget that they are a part of the team, brothers to those they are leading.  They are not above those they lead as though they are more valuable or worthy.  They are fulfilling a God-given ministry, even as the rest of the team is.

“We dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God.”  A mother’s gentleness characterizes good leadership, but so does a father’s challenge for his children to fulfill their calling.  A good leader doesn’t just provide for the needs of those being led so they feel loved and cared for, a good leader spurs them on to be what God wants them to be, challenging them to growth and service.

His, by Grace,

Steve