The Task of a Leader

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.. And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone."

-1 Thessalonians 5:11, 14-15

Every person is a leader; every person has the capacity to influence others. Some may not have the "qualities" of a leader: outspoken, confident, wise. But I'll tell you the truth: the moment that you have influenced a person to buy a food or sit or not to commit suicide, or not to study, or do something, then you're already a leader. Why am I telling this? Because leadership is basically influence, and thus, everyone is a leader.

But leadership aside, whether you are a pastor, a youth pastor, a student leader, a parent, a gang leader, or the president of any organization, we should remember and live the verses above.

1.Encourage one another.

A lot of people love to encourage other people: Oprah, Sharon, Willie Revillame, etcetra. But in reality, there are also people who love to discourage other people. Was there a point in your life that you were so discouraged or sad that you influenced a person to be sad too? To encourage is to give courage to those who are weak or full of fears. To encourage is to bring life, not sadness, not despair, not even pain.

2.Build each other up.

You cannot build without foundation. If you want to build a person up, you must know the very foundation that the person needs. For example, Christians, to build them up, must be deeply rooted to Christ, not to anyone, not to anyone principles or philosophies. Biologists are founded on biology. The roots must always be identified. A relationship won't last without proper foundations.

And when we build people up, it means strengthening them. You don't strengthen people not just in one aspect, but in all. When you strengthen a person in one aspect only, that person will lose balance, and later on will fall. Just imagine a building being built up on one side only. Do you think that building is lovely to look at? Or will it be able to withstand earthquakes, strong winds, etc?

3. Warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.

This is the most difficult part of being a leader. If I were to sum the words up, I'd write the word: patience. Leaders should be patient with people. When you know that a person is timid, encourage him patiently. You cannot let durian bear fruits immediately; some would take time. You must tend to its needs, etcetera.

But why do people hurry? Because they forget about their objectives and focus on the current process. They lose focus on their vision and instead focus on the things that are currently happening around them.

When we warn, we warn patiently. We encourage patiently. We help patiently. There is such a thing called individual differences; you can google it if you like.

And if we think that these things are impossible, then try thinking about Jesus a Friend, Savior, Lover, Leader, Pastor, etcetera):

⁶Who, being in very nature^[a] God,

      did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,

 ⁷but made himself nothing,

      taking the very nature^[b] of a servant,

      being made in human likeness.

 -Philippians 2:6-7

If you think you are a friend, then try to be like Jesus. If you believe that you're called to be a leader or pastor, then try Jesus.