5 Reasons Why People Avoid Leadership Responsibilities Series

Decide to Become One of the Few Good Leaders in This World

If you believe that you are called to the ministry, then you are called to leadership. That is why this sermon is very important for your life. So that you will be a good leader for the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul wrote to Timothy and told him to do certain things to make him a good leader. There are good ministers and bad ministers. Decide to be a good minister!

…thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ…

1 Timothy 4:6

If you are going to be effective in the ministry, you must study leadership. Whenever I go into a bookshop, I find myself gravitating towards the leadership section. I have read countless books on leadership. I have studied this all-important subject. I want to be a good leader. Good things do not drop on you like ripe mangoes from a tree. You have to study and discover all that there is to learn.

It is obvious that there are not many good leaders around. If there were, you and I would be able to point them out without much difficulty! I believe that there are many reasons why there are few outstanding leaders, but let us start by looking at why people do not want to be leaders in the first place!

Five Reasons Why People Avoid Leadership Responsibilities

1. Many people do not know that they are leaders.

They do not know because no one has told them so! They don’t even know that they have the ability to lead. Some people think that only a few people are born to lead. I do not believe that few people are born to lead. I believe that many people are born with the ability to lead but they are not prepared to pay the price to become leaders.

So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

Matthew 20:16

For many are called, but few are chosen.

Matthew 22:14

The Bible teaches us that many are called to service. Anyone who yields himself to the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ becomes an automatic leader. A minister of the gospel has to demonstrate leadership qualities and abilities all the time.

If you are called to His service, then you are called to be a leader. You cannot avoid it!

2. People fear that they will be accused and hated.

Leaders are often accused of being ambitious. They are often accused of having bad motives. I was very surprised when I heard some people accuse me of being in the ministry for money. But God spoke to me and told me that it is inevitable that I should be accused. Every good leader has many enemies. The nature of good leadership is that it charts out a course and maintains the direction. This means that you may cross over and hurt certain people.

And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

Luke 14:27

Many years ago, I told a brother that I did not want to be a leader in a certain fellowship. I told him that I was a quiet person and that I enjoyed my privacy. I told him that I did not want to preach or to lead. But God had another plan for me and today I am a leader in God’s house. Becoming a leader will cost you your valued life. I have very little private life left. Most people know a lot of things about me. I am discussed in people’s homes and cars. Like all leaders, I am praised by some and criticized by others. This is the lot of a leader. This is why some people shun leadership. But Jesus said that you should take up the cross and follow him. Christianity involves sacrifice. It is worth becoming a leader within the church.

3. People do not want to end up disgraced and hated as many prominent leaders have been.

There are many leaders who have ended up in disgrace after taking up the mantle of leadership. Others have experienced terrible hurts and had bitter experiences. Some have been crucified by the people they led.

I have personally watched how leaders have been rewarded with evil after many years of service. I have seen several (and I mean several) churches throw out their pastor after he has led them for many years. I have seen pastors ridiculed and humiliated by members they have ministered to for years and at great expense. I have watched pastors being rejected over issues like cars and houses. How sad! We all know how Jesus was crucified after three and a half years of ministry. That was his reward for being a shining light to His people.