The Attitude of a Leader

"Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed" -1 Peter 5.1

1 Peter 5.1 talks about the attitude of a leader. A leader must not think too highly of himself. A leader must own his past failures. A leader must realize that his past failures have not disqualified him from serving, worshiping, or glorifying God.

I found a quote today from early in my graduate studies, "When God spoke to us in Scripture he used human language, and when he spoke to us in Christ he assumed human flesh. In order to reveal himself, he both emptied and humbled himself. That is the model of evangelism which the Bible supplies. There is self-emptying and self-humbling in all authentic evangelism; without it we contradict the gospel and misrepresent the Christ we proclaim."

I don't remember the source of this quote, but substitute the word evangelism for leadership, and it captures the essence of 1 Peter 5.1. The role of leader will be examined in the coming verses, but action begins with attitude. A leader is going to face difficult trials, and to begin, a leader must realize that they are human, that they are not immune to hardship and suffering, and that they will face danger and trials as they seek to do what is right. A leader cannot be afraid to acknowledge when they fall short, holding themselves to an impossible standard of perfection, or allowing others to hold them to this standard. Finally, a leader must realize that if and when they do fall short, God is able to bring redemption and restoration.

1 Peter 5.1 sets up guidelines for a leader to follow, but it all begins with the correct attitude.


Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11

TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!