1. "Not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you" (1 Pet. 5:2, ESV).

In John 21:15-17, the resurrected Yeshua commands Peter three times: "Tend my lambs ... shepherd my sheep ... tend my sheep." Peter was a bold, strong man destined to be a great leader of God's people. In his own strength, he could have accepted these commands from Yeshua, as "under compulsion". But Yeshua knew that neither Peter, nor anyone else, can lead like Yeshua leads "according to the will of God" —under his own strength (1 Pet. 5:2). He may start strong, but he will ultimately fail. This is why, in John 21, before each command, Yeshua asks Peter the rhetorical question, "Peter, do you love me?"

So it is with each of us who lead: if we are listening, the Holy Spirit is constantly asking us the same question: "Are you doing this because you have to or because you love God?"

I can almost hear God saying, "If you love Me and draw near to Me, then you can lead with My heart, My love, My wisdom— and if not—well, good luck!"

2. "Not for dishonest gain, but eagerly" (1 Peter 5:2b, MEV).

We all need to make a living. We all need money for family, food, clothing, maybe a car and so on. There's nothing wrong with ministry leaders being paid for their work. Just as in any workplace, those with more authority and responsibility also deserve higher pay. But to be true leaders in His image, the desire/need for money (and more money) must never be the source of our motivation. In 1 Corinthians 9:16, the apostle Paul testifies: "For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!"

All of us in ministry leadership must have this attitude: "I am doing this because God has called me. He has gifted me, and it is His will in me. Woe to me if I don't do it! It doesn't matter if I get paid or how much—this is not just any job!" And the same is true for all of us, whether as parents or leaders in the secular workplace. We must know that all authority is a gift from God (Rom. 13:1) and our work is something we should be eager to do for His glory—not for money or for status!

3. "Do not lord over those in your charge, but be examples to the flock" (1 Pet. 5:3).

Before I became a parent, I took a parenting class taught by a local pastoral couple here in Jerusalem. Seven years later, I still remember one of their statements very clearly: "Your kids will do what you do, not what you tell them to do!" This is one of the simplest and most universal of all leadership principles: lead by example. By virtue of power and authority many have succeeded in ruling by "dictating" (being a dictator) over others. But their reign and influence is usually short-lived (as soon as the dictatorial leader dies, the whole thing falls apart). But when we rule from below, not above, by the example of obedience and holiness in our lives, we can produce lasting fruit in others that can continue to influence the generations after we are gone. In 2 Corinthians 4:9 and following, Paul describes apostles as those "at the end of the procession", not famous and prominent, standing at the front of the parade, but nameless, as those condemned to death, weak and without honor. The greatest leaders are often unknown, quietly leading many by their humble example. Yeshua said, "Learn from Me. For I am meek and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light" (Matt. 11:29-30.

This article originally appeared at tikkun.tv.

Get Spirit-filled content delivered right to your inbox! Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.

Dr. Mark Rutland's

National Institute of Christian Leadership (NICL)

The NICL is one of the top leadership training programs in the U.S. taught by Dr. Mark Rutland. If you're the type of leader that likes to have total control over every aspect of your ministry and your future success, the NICL is right for you!

FREE NICL MINI-COURSE - Enroll for 3-hours of training from Dr. Rutland's full leadership course. Experience the NICL and decide if this training is right for you and your team.

The NICL Online is an option for any leader with time or schedule constraints. It's also for leaders who want to expedite their training to receive advanced standing for Master Level credit hours. Work through Dr. Rutland's full training from the comfort of your home or ministry at your pace. Learn more about NICL Online. Learn more about NICL Online.