Who can become a leader?

Read Paul's second letter to Timothy the other day and saw the last words of wisdom from a man of God to his spiritual son, just before he knows that he is about to die. This is also words from the Holy Spirit to us as Christians and to the church. It touched me deeply.

One question that is spoken about a lot in this letter, but also in the first letter, is about leadership. Who can become a leader? What are the qualifications?

Many would look for smart people, others for the charismatic. We would look for things like; spiritual gifts, how good they are at preaching, how social they are. We might look for potential, talents and grades from school.

So, what does Paul look for?

"And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will also be qualified to teach others." 

2 Tim 2:2

Reliable people. Faithful. Pistos in Greek: true, trustworthy, reliable, faithful.

Spiritual gifts are important. Potential and talents are exciting. But what God is looking for are faithful people!

A person who does not come to work late. That does not leave early. A faithful person does not forget about a meeting, does not hand in an essay after deadline and is not sloppy with the job he has been given. A faithful person sticks to what he's promised, is there when needed and does not gossip. A no is a no and a yes is a yes to a faithful person. A faithful person asks for forgiveness, and does not try to explain or justify the behavior. A faithful person does not oversleep more than once :). A faithful person is full of faith!

Are you faithful?

GOOD! Then you qualify for leadership!