Written by Eric Gayer

Read: Romans 12; 1 Thessalonians 5:12; 1 Timothy 3:4-5, 12; 1 Timothy 5:17; Titus 3:8, 14

As I was graduating from high school, I learned my boss was stepping down from his position. In that vacuum, I found myself wanting to jump in and fill the gap, so I arranged a meeting to share my ideas about how we could keep things going smoothly. I wanted to make sure nothing important was missed and that people who were depending on the service would be cared for. I didn’t do this because I wanted the job. I just found myself wanting to step in and bring order where I perceived there was a void.

Looking back on that now, I believe it was the gift of leadership being stirred up in me. When Paul mentions the gift of leadership in Romans 12, he says, “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them...he who leads, with diligence.”

Biblical examples of leadership weren’t always people we would consider natural-born leaders. Some definitely seemed to step up and lead when no one else did, but others didn’t take responsibility unless it was given to them. If you tend to notice what needs to be done, bring organization to things, make lots of notes, or become frustrated by broken systems, you may have the gift of leadership. You don’t just notice problems (and complain); you feel responsible to fix them.

Biblical leadership isn’t tied to upbringing, wealth, or education but to character. For example, Paul, when giving the qualifications of church leaders (in 1 Timothy and Titus), says they should first be known for leading their own homes well. It reflects his encouragement in Romans 12 to lead “with diligence.” The gift is tied to the idea of taking responsibility seriously or showing oneself to be faithful.

Paul’s readers would have observed synagogue leaders, Roman military commanders, and senators; all of these would have shaped their views of what a leader was. But as with other teachings of Jesus, the Bible takes that idea and turns it upside down. Unlike leaders in the world who tend to use their influence for self-promotion, kingdom leaders serve under a greater authority. They aren’t grasping for power but instead want to know the limits of their authority and respect others in authority. They aren’t power hungry or looking to elevate themselves; they use their God-given authority to serve. True leadership is not about advancing one’s own agenda but about stewarding authority to meet others’ needs. Leadership like that isn’t kept to itself; it meets real needs and demonstrates the gospel in practical ways to a watching world.

You may already be leading in your household or business. Or maybe you’ve never thought of yourself as a leader, but you recognize that you don’t just critique from the sidelines; you tend to step in. The issue is not whether you have the title “leader,” but whether you faithfully fill in the gaps the Lord shows you. Leadership is often not about ownership but stewardship, faithfully caring for what God has placed in front of you.