Seven Characteristics of Great Leaders
An online survey listed all the qualities that people expect from ‘perfect’ pastors: They preach for exactly twelve minutes. They are twenty-eight years of age, but have been preaching for thirty years. They work from 8 am until midnight every day, but are also the caretaker. They frequently condemn sin, but never upset anyone. They wear good clothes, buy good books, drive a good car, give generously to the poor and have a low salary. They make fifteen daily calls to parish families, visit the housebound and the hospitalised, spend all their time evangelising the un-churched and are always in the office when they are needed. They are also very good-looking!
Paul said to the Ephesian elders, ‘Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood’ (Acts 20:28).
The task of an overseer is to pastor God’s flock, following the example of Jesus who said, ‘I am the good shepherd’ (John 10:11). In the passages for today we see seven characteristics of good shepherds which are seen in all great Christian leaders.
Psalm 78:56-72
Integrity and skill
God was looking for a man after his own heart. God led the people like a shepherd: ‘Then he led his people out like sheep, took his flock safely through the wilderness. He took good care of them; they had nothing to fear’ (v.52–53, MSG).
David, a rare example in the Old Testament of great (though not perfect) leadership: ‘He chose David his servant… to be the shepherd of his people Jacob, of Israel his inheritance. And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skilful hands he led them’ (v.70–72).
David had the experience of being a shepherd in the literal sense. God ‘took him from the sheep pens; from tending the sheep’ (v.70). He used these skills to be a shepherd also in the metaphorical sense of the leader and pastor of God’s people:
1. Integrity of heart
‘Integrity’ is the opposite of ‘hypocrisy’.
2. Skilful hands
David was a skilful shepherd. He had learnt to protect the flock with his sling.
3. Love
Love and leadership go hand in hand.
4. Service
The prophet Agabus warned Paul of what awaited him in Jerusalem. They pleaded with Paul not to go to Jerusalem, but Paul answered, ‘Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus’ (v.13).
5. Sensitivity
We often think of Paul’s pioneering drive and bold approach; however, he also showed sensitivity to the culture of Jerusalem.
2 Kings 3:1-4:37
Compassion and prayer
6. Compassion
Next, Elisha, this ‘holy man of God’ (v.9) has compassion for the Shunammite woman who had been unable to conceive. She discovered that God honours those who provide hospitality. He speaks the word of the Lord to her and as a result, she conceives (v.15–17).
7. Prayer
When her son dies, he prays to the Lord (v.33). He gives him a form of supernatural mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and he revives and sneezes seven times (v.34–35).
