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6 Commitments Every Spiritual Leader Must Make
Leaders are defined by their commitments—non-negotiables they must keep in order to lead effectively and biblically in a ministry setting. Such commitments aren’t standards that other people set for them. In fact, great leaders often expect more from themselves than they do from their followers.
Six times in the New Testament, the Bible says to “make every effort.”
I think we’d all agree that if the Bible tells us to make every effort to do something, we should commit to that. These verses represent 6 vows that spiritual leaders need to make in order to become the kind of leader God calls us to be. ………………………….
There are a total of six vows.
1. As a leader, I vow to maintain my integrity.
“Make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with [God]” (2 Peter 3:14 NIV). You don’t need to be perfect to be an effective leader, but you do need to be transparent about your weaknesses. The Bible says hiding your sins leads to failure, “but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy” (Proverbs 28:13 NIV).
2. As a leader, I vow to forgive those who have hurt me.
“Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many” (Hebrews 12:14-15 NIV). You will be hurt in ministry, both intentionally and unintentionally. That’s a guarantee.
Pioneers always get the arrows!
Even Jesus, who was a perfect leader, was betrayed. It’s not always your fault, but it will be your fault if you carry bitterness in your heart, as it will keep you from being the leader God wants you to be.
3. As a leader, I vow to relax and trust God.
“Anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter [God’s] rest” (Hebrews 4:10-11 NIV). You’ll need to learn what I call “relaxed concern” to be effective in ministry. You must be concerned about the needs of the people around you, but also remember you’re not God. You cannot bear everybody’s burden all the time.
4. As a leader, I vow to be an encourager.
“Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification” (Romans 14:19 NIV). The word “edification” means to build up. To be a leader, you must decide to build up people, not tear them down.
How can you do that? Regularly praise the people you’re leading. Focus on what they’re doing that is positive, including their potential to grow and improve. Every human being is a mix of problems and potential. People often live up to the expectations placed on them.
5. As a leader, I vow to be a peacemaker.
“Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3 NIV). Leaders should work toward reducing conflict in their places of influence—and certainly should not add to it. Our world has plenty of conflict already.
This means refusing to participate in gossip and challenging it when you hear it. No one likes to be called out for gossip, but addressing gossip for what it is will help to shut it down.
6. As a leader, I vow to never stop growing.
“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:5-8 NIV).
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Leaders are defined by their commitments—non-negotiables they must keep in order to lead effectively and biblically in a ministry setting. Such commitments aren’t standards that other people set for them. In fact, great leaders often expect more from themselves than they do from their followers.
Six times in the New Testament, the Bible says to “make every effort.”
I think we’d all agree that if the Bible tells us to make every effort to do something, we should commit to that. These verses represent 6 vows that spiritual leaders need to make in order to become the kind of leader God calls us to be. ………………………….
There are a total of six vows.
1. As a leader, I vow to maintain my integrity.
“Make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with [God]” (2 Peter 3:14 NIV). You don’t need to be perfect to be an effective leader, but you do need to be transparent about your weaknesses. The Bible says hiding your sins leads to failure, “but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy” (Proverbs 28:13 NIV).
2. As a leader, I vow to forgive those who have hurt me.
“Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many” (Hebrews 12:14-15 NIV). You will be hurt in ministry, both intentionally and unintentionally. That’s a guarantee.
Pioneers always get the arrows!
Even Jesus, who was a perfect leader, was betrayed. It’s not always your fault, but it will be your fault if you carry bitterness in your heart, as it will keep you from being the leader God wants you to be.
3. As a leader, I vow to relax and trust God.
“Anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter [God’s] rest” (Hebrews 4:10-11 NIV). You’ll need to learn what I call “relaxed concern” to be effective in ministry. You must be concerned about the needs of the people around you, but also remember you’re not God. You cannot bear everybody’s burden all the time.
4. As a leader, I vow to be an encourager.
“Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification” (Romans 14:19 NIV). The word “edification” means to build up. To be a leader, you must decide to build up people, not tear them down.
How can you do that? Regularly praise the people you’re leading. Focus on what they’re doing that is positive, including their potential to grow and improve. Every human being is a mix of problems and potential. People often live up to the expectations placed on them.
5. As a leader, I vow to be a peacemaker.
“Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3 NIV). Leaders should work toward reducing conflict in their places of influence—and certainly should not add to it. Our world has plenty of conflict already.
This means refusing to participate in gossip and challenging it when you hear it. No one likes to be called out for gossip, but addressing gossip for what it is will help to shut it down.
6. As a leader, I vow to never stop growing.
“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:5-8 NIV).