Stay and stand.

How can we create environments where people flourish? How can we lead when people around us make it difficult at times? Stay and stand.

In these next few verses I offer 3 leadership lessons to those who are currently appointed into a position of leadership and have to make a stand for what they have been called to.

“As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer ⁴ or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith. ⁵ The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. ⁶ Some have departed from these and have turned to meaningless talk. ⁷ They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.” (1 Timothy 1 v 3-7)

• Protect from drift.

There are certain people, not everyone, but some, who may have a loud voice, they may be influential, so they think, who want to dilute or distract others from your core message. Whether that be the gospel or your church vision and strategy, these people want to cause a drifting away from all you have invested in. They may not know they are doing it and others may be blinded by their passion but it is endangering a derailing of all you believe. Your role is to stay and protect against this. Keep the alignment of your church and ministry intact.

• Don’t waste time.

There isn’t anything wrong with debate and theorising but strategic discussion and planning is better. There isn’t anything wrong with criticism but when it destroys it becomes the antithesis of constructive feedback. There isn’t anything wrong with confidence but it can hide incompetence. If a leader refuses to permit being challenged because they are always right, then they are definitely wrong. Your role is to stay and make sure you build a culture of life-giving authority.

• Character, character, character.

We have heard all our lives that character is more important than gifting and all of our life we see gifting being discussed, promoted and celebrated more than character. But it is character that will bring everything crashing to the floor or keep everything steady and sure. Your role is to stay and lead with a pure heart. Your motivations matter. Ask this question. Why? It is the best question to ask yourself. Stay and lead with a good conscience. This will bring the confidence and authenticity that is needed. Stay and lead with a sincere faith. Your deep conviction creates genuine leadership influence.

Sometimes the most courageous thing a leader can do is to stay and speak truth in love because what you allow to grow will either cause drift, waste your time or weaken your character instead of advancing the work God has called you to.