The Burden of Leadership

I am always appreciative of people who think that, as a minister, I may need the congregation's prayers in order to do my job. Prayers for those who provide leadership in the Lord's body are often spoken during our public worship assemblies, but I am aware of the fact that many of these prayers are offered up in private when members are at home as well. Many brethren have made it a point to inform me that they are praying for my family, and these are so appreciated. The purpose of this study, therefore, is to explain why these prayers for all church leaders are appropriate and necessary. Hopefully this information will guide and encourage the prayer support on behalf of those called upon to lead God's people, especially the men who serve as elders (who are also referred to as shepherds, pastors, bishops, or overseers in different Bible passages - Acts 20:28).

Leaders Carry a Heavy Burden of Responsibility

Leaders become leaders for two reasons. First, they aspire to leadership because they have the desire to serve in this particular way.

It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do.
- I Timothy 3:1

I believe that Paul is explaining that the desire to lead needs to be part of the calling when God turns a man's heart towards leadership in the assembly. The Spirit of God draws a man to this role and puts a desire to lead God's people into his heart. It is not healthy for a man to take on leadership, especially church leadership, if he does not have the desire to do good works on behalf of the Lord as a leader of God's people.

Another reason men want to lead is because they genuinely feel qualified to do so. In most cases they believe that they possess the skills and personal resources necessary to serve the church in this way. Paul, the Apostle, reviews these qualifications in I Timothy 3:1-7.

It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do. An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money. He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?), and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil. And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.