Level Headed Leadership
As we finish this series encouraging us to recognize God’s call on our lives to lead others, we see Paul’s writings in the introduction of his second letter to Timothy.
Paul cared deeply for Timothy and serves as an excellent example of what a leader and mentor should be. His heart was to see Timothy realize his potential as a leader.
It’s important to understand that leaders need self-control. To be healthy leaders, we must work to become the healthiest versions of ourselves in every capacity. Ultimately, to be the level-headed leaders we are called to be, we must be led by God’s Holy Spirit. Simply put, to be the leaders we are called to be, we must walk in the Spirit as we become the people God has called us to be in EVERY area of our lives.
The first invitation, as we step into being level-headed leaders, is the invitation to surrender. 2 Timothy 1:7 tells us that God’s Spirit doesn’t lead us into fear, but that we are called to be people of love and power—power, just as Jesus said we would receive in Acts 1:8, and love, which is from God and of God, per 1 John 4:7–8.
Leaders need God’s power and God’s love. These are vital if we are to be healthy leaders, not overbearing bosses, but true leaders.
Being led by God’s Spirit into love and power might seem complicated or difficult from the outside, but truly, all we need to do is ask! We can ask God to lead us in His Spirit, to help us love others through His Spirit, and to give us strength and power from His Spirit. In asking, we must be aware that the answer will require surrender. Surrendering to the Spirit will require us to love even those we don’t like. Surrendering will call us to step out of what is known and comfortable, truly trusting God’s power.
Paul also reminds Timothy of a crucial aspect of level-headed leadership: self-control. Healthy leadership requires self-control. With leadership comes power, and with power comes an equal opportunity to hurt and mislead others. Self-control is vital in our lives as we seek to lead people and never use people.
Leaders with self-control will ultimately be those who are holistically healthy. Leading others means we need to work to be the best versions of ourselves. This means we need to ask hard questions about how healthy we are.
Physically, emotionally, and spiritually, are we growing and pursuing God’s best for us? What areas of our life need more self-control to better equip us to lead those around us?
Self-controlled, level-headed leaders also need to be untangled. Hebrews 12:1 tells us not only to lay aside the sin in our lives but also the hindrances, or things that hold us back, as we run after Jesus. To be healthy leaders, we need to know when to say no! Healthy leaders understand what they can and can’t do and recognize when something in their life is overwhelming or overtaking them.
Ultimately, we need to be ready, with a clear conscience, to step in and lead as God has called and created us to!
