...For if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God? (1 Timothy 3:5)
A phrase often used in business circles is, “The speed of the leader is the speed of the gang.” This saying characterizes the day in which we live. It seems everything is about speed. How fast can we get it done? How fast can we get there? How fast can this machine run? Fast is great! But when it comes to great leaders, God is not looking for someone who will just focus on getting the job done fast. He is looking for people who will get the job done with excellence.
God set high standards on leadership positions in His church. Why? Because He wants believers to have excellent role models in order to become the best leaders in the world. He knows that what is in the head will flow into the body, and He wants His body taking dominion here on the earth!
In the day we live, books on leadership in the workplace abound. People have learned how to achieve promotion, how to lead their companies, and how to make it to the top of their profession. Yet at the same time of great leaders abounding in the earth, we have seen marriages fail and families fall apart at alarming rates! What is the answer to this dilemma? We believe the answer begins with a study of leadership in the home. According to 1 Timothy 3:5, striving to achieve a leadership position before it has been achieved in the home is like the old adage of putting the cart before the horse. God knows that whether in the ministry or the workplace, the joys of success achieved are much greater when a person has a peaceful home environment and can enjoy the fruit of their labor.
Architects tell us that the taller they plan to build a building, the deeper they plan and place the foundation footings under the ground in order to support the building and keep it from tipping over. This is a perfect illustration of why God desires that believers have strong marriages and families. He knows that the deeper a marriage and family is rooted in God’s love and unity, the higher that family can build and the more dominion they can take in the earth to achieve greatness for God.
The most basic requirement to be a successful leader in our home is having our priorities in order. We know this means we should first and foremost love God and seek to know Him with all of our heart.
When we consistently maintain God as first place in our life, we are prepared to be a quality spouse, parent, or whatever leader God has called us to be. When He is truly first place in our life, our words and actions will show on a consistent basis the fruit of the Spirit, which is “…love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22). With these operating through us, we are able to have healthy relationships in our homes.
-Pastors Shaun & Amy
