Practical Living in an Impractical World: To The One Who Leads- Romans 12:8

In school, many years ago, I quickly learned that there were what seemed to be natural born leaders. They would show up on the playground. You know the ones, always telling everyone else what to do, how to do it, and when they could do it. They were not in the same class as the bully, but they had their own way of forcing their will on the rest of us. I don’t know how this happens. Is it something in people’s DNA, inherited from parents or ancestors? Is it subconsciously or consciously instilled in the child’s mind by their primary authority figures, parents, grandparents, etc.? Is it something the child developed on his own? I don’t know and I won’t debate it. The fact remains some people are leaders while the vast majority seem to be followers. Of course, we can’t discount those in the first century who were gifted with special leadership ability by the HOLY SPIRIT. Being a follower can be good or bad depending on the situation, who you are following and why. More on the follower later. As for the leader, whether it is a divine gift from the GOD or something more natural, all leaders have the same tremendous responsibility to lead in appropriate, righteous, and mindful ways. Paul’s encouragement in Roman’s 12:8, adds still another level of responsibility; to lead with zeal (ESV). This is not the usual word translated zeal, which is associated with heat, passion, or fervor of spirit. The word for zeal in this passage carries the idea of making haste, to be quick to a task, to be diligent without hesitation. If you are a leader- LEAD. Don’t hold back. Don’t make excuses. Don’t be lazy. However, do not lead unless you are being led yourself by the WILL of GOD. Paul uses this word again in 2Timothy 2:15, translated as Do Your Best! “Do your best to present yourself to GOD as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the WORD of TRUTH.” So, lead with diligence. But lead diligently through the correct handling of GOD’S WORD.

Russell Ashby