If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously.
Romans 12:8
ὁ προϊστάμενος, ἐν σπουδῇ
the {one coming to the fore} in diligence
There are two very interesting words in these few words. προϊστάμενος and σπουδῇ.
προϊστάμενος [proistēmi] to stand before, that is, (in rank) to preside, or (by implication) to practise: – maintain, be over, rule, be in leadership.
Literally be the one out the front. Being up front. There are people who are up front people and there are people who prefer to shrink into the background. Both are needed. We can’t all be up front – it would be crowded. There are those who are quick to come to the fore. Just make sure you are doing it for the right reasons and not to promote yourself. Promote Him and His kingdom and not you and your kingdom. If you do have that gift of “being to the fore”, be quick even earnest, diligent in leading others well, for their sake and the good of the body. Remember all this is set in the context of the body and each part playing its part FOR THE BODY.
There are those who have the gift of being up front; There are those who have the gift of leadership, of management. There are some pastors who have the gift of business management and/or people management. There are those whose gift is more “spiritual” and management matters are not their forté. If that is the case then someone with the management gift, the coming to the fore gift needs to be quick to step into the breach. It goes without saying but I will say it anyway, the pastor or spiritual leader needs to allow that to happen. The early church (Acts 6:2-4) recognised the differences in gifts and found people who were good προϊστάμενος people to manage the body. Otherwise the gifts go to waste. How many people are prevented from “doing their strength” because the administrivia gets in the way?
Now notice the other important word – σπουδῇ [spoudē] “speed”, that is eagerness, earnest, earnestness, care (-fulness), diligence, forwardness, haste.
There are people in our midst who have a burning desire to make things work well. The gift of organisation and administration. For this sort of person they see chaos and want to bring order. They see disarray and want to make it right. Let them, the body will function better as a result. But notice the full importance of what Paul is saying. Unless we have the right view of ourselves and know our place in the body and are keenly aware we are practising this gift for the good of the body and not for ourselves, we will bring dissension. “Not thinking of ourselves more highly than we ought” is essential to allowing the gifts to work as they ought.
It Is Impossible To Become A Man In Authority Until You 1st Become A Man Under Authority.
Robb Thompson